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GENERAL HISTORY 



OF THE STATE OF 



MICHIGAN; 



BIOaEAPHIOAL SKETCHES, 



PORTRAIT ENGRAVINGS, 



AND NUMEROUS 



ILLUSTRA TIONS. 



A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE PENINSULAR STATE FROM ITS 
EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME. 



COMPILED BY 

CHARLES RICHARD TUTTLE. 

..pyright"^ 

.874 , ; 

DETROIT: . --Uillh:-^^ 

R. D. S. TYLER & CO., 66 GRISWOLD STREET. 

PRINTED BY THE DETROIT FREE PRESS COMPANY. 

1873. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, 

By CHARLES RICHARD TUTTLE, 

In the offlce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



(^ 
<^> 




TO 

THE MEN OF MICHIGAN, 

WHO, 

FKOM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, 

BY TIMELY PERSEVERANCE AND WELL DIRECTED 

ENTERPRISE, HAVE WON WEALTH FOR 

THEMSELVES OR FAME FOR THE 

PENINSULAR STATE, 

THIS VOLUME 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. 



PREFACE. 

Some one has very properly written that the country is already 
overloaded with histories of itself; and the same writer as properly 
adds : " Not one of them pretends to constitute a general history 
of the United States in volumes, embracing a complete history of 
each State separately — a work that would be of incalculable value 
to the archives of every Commonwealth of the American Repub- 
lic." It has been offered in reply to this, that " the early history 
of the United States is so consolidated and intermingled as not to 
admit of being divided into volumes that would adapt themselves 
respectively to each State." The last argument holds good only 
in so far as the task of compiling such a work is a difficult one, 
involving much labor that can scarcely hope for just compensa- 
tion. 

The work presented in this volume is threefold in its character, 
embracing a general history of Michigan, from its earliest settlement 
to the present time (unincumbered by the records of a neighboring 
Commonwealth), including illustrations and brief descriptive 
sketches of the most prominent features of the Peninsular State, 
with portraits and short biographical sketches of its present leading 
business and professional men. 

With regard to the first and most important feature, it is proper 
to state that the works which the author has consulted freely, and 
to which the perfection of this book is most indebted, are Lan- 
man's History of Michigan, Sheldon's Early History of Michigan, 
Bancroft's History of the United States, Parkman's Conspiracy of 
Pontiac, Lanman's Red Book of Michigan, Tackabury's New 
Atlas of the State of Michigan, Way's History of the Boundary 
Difficulty, and numerous other volumes. The great aim has been 
to condense from these works, and from more recent records, a 
plain and truthful history of the State from its earliest settlement 
to the present time. 



VUl PREFACE. 

In the second and third features, the aim has been to depict, by 
descriptive sketches and engravings, the more prominent modern 
features of the State, and to present the portraits with brief bio- 
graphical sketches of some of its leading citizens. In doing the 
latter, care has been taken to select representative men in all the 
departments of trade, and in the learned professions, without 
regard to the accident of political prominence. The latter con- 
sideration has not, of course, been ignored in making the selection, 
but preference has been given to those who have, by unaided 
industry and native force of character, placed themselves in 
prominent and leading positions in their chosen field of labor. 

The labor of compiling this volume has been immense, and not 
always pleasant. The object has been to furnish to the citizens of 
the State a more complete history of the Commonwealth than has 
yet been written ; and at the same time to give to the world, in a 
condensed and popular form, reliable information in regard to the 
resources of a State now truly imperial in wealth, population and 
power. How well this task has been performed we leave to the 
judgment of an indulgent and discriminating public. 

It will be observed that the portrait engravings in this volume 
are inserted without reference to chronological order. This became 
necessary for the reason that printing was commenced before the 
engravings were finished. The only order observed is that in 
which the engravings reached the hands of the printer. 

In conclusion, the publishers desire to express their gratitude to 
the Detroit Free Press Company and its employes, for the faithful- 
ness and painstaking care with which they have carried the 
mechanical part of the work forward to completion. The intelli- 
gence and skill displayed in this part of the work is patent to 
every reader, and is in itself an illustration of the enterprise 
which is characteristic of the men of Michigan, as well as of the 
magnitude and excellence of the oldest printing house in the 
Peninsular State. 

Detroit, December, 1873. 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 

New State Capitol (Frontispiece). 

The Indian Council at St. Mary's Falls (1671) 89 

La Salle in the Griffin 107 

Death of La Salle 107 

Old Fort Michilimackinac 191 

Unveiling of the (Conspiracy of Pontiac 249 

Fort Pontchartrain (Detroit) in 1705 273 

The First Cliurches Built in Michigan 355 

Hon. T. J. Campau's Residence 373 

Pear Trees in the Old Jesuit Garden 399 

Residence of Isaac Newton Swain 409 

Country Residence of W. W. Backus 445 

Burt's Solar Compass 517 

Burt's Surveying Company (with Marquette in the distance) 521 

Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument 541 

Residence of James Nail, jr 591 

University of Michigan 603 

Agricultural College, Lansing, Michigan 611 

Map of Straits of Mackinaw 615 

Michigan Female Seminary 627 

Detroit Homeopathic College 631 

Goldsmith's Bryant & Stratton Business College 635 

Steamer W. L. Wetmore 651 

Saugatuck Union School .' 669 

Residence of M. Jacques Campau 677 

The Joseph Campau Residence 687 

View of the City of Grand Rapids 691 

View of the City of Adrian 699 

View of the City of Detroit 705 

Second Presbyterian Church, Detroit 707 

City Hall, Detroit 709 

View of Fort Street, Detroit 711 

View of the City of Flint 719 



X ILLUSTRATlOXS. 

PORTRAITS. 

Hon. Lewis Cass 21 

Lieutenant-Governor Andrew Parsons 41 

Governor John J. Bagley 61 

Governor H. P. Baldwin 65 

Hon. Frederick L. Wells 69 

Hon. Elihu L. Clark 73 

Henry Fish 77 

Colonel Wm. M. Fenton 83 

Hon. Martin S. Brackett 91 

Hon. Timothy Jerome 95 

Thomas P. Sheldon 99 

Hon. Jonathan B. Tuttle 103 

General Joseph O. Hudnut 113 

Hon. J. W. Begole 117 

Hon. James Watson 123 

Hon Peter Desnoyers 125 

Captain John Clarke 129 

Hon. John R. Kellogg 185 

Hon. Charles W. Grant 141 

Professor Duane Doty 145 

Hon. J. G. Sutherland 149 

Hon. John N. Mellen 153 

E. B. Ward 157 

Hon. Charles M. Garrison 101 

Hon. Lysander Woodward 167 

Hon. Peter C. Andre 169 

Hon. Charles S. May . 173 

Hon. B. W. Huston 177 

Ray Haddock 183 

Hon. George H. Durand 185 

F. G. Russell 193 

Hon. A. F. R. Braley 197 

Dr. Edward W. Jenks 201 

Hon. Samuel D. Pace 205 

Hon. John Moore 209 

E. T. Judd 213 

Dr. J. B. White 217 

Hon. Eleazer Jewett 221 

R. W. Jenny 225 

General Mark Flanigan 231 

J. M. Stanley 235 

James Shearer ... 241 

Lorenzo B Curtis 245 

Right Reverend Samuel A. McCoskry 253 

Hon. S. M. Green 257 

Hon. Moses B. Hess 265 



ILLUSTRATIONS, XI 

Hon. James Birney 269 

M. S. Smith 277 

Hon. James Turrill 283 

Ezra Rust 285 

David Preston 289 

Hon. Bela W. Jenks 293 

E. O. Haven, D. D., LL. D 297 

Hon. John F. Driggs 305 

Rev. J. M. Arnold 309 

Hon. R. P. Eldredge 313 

Hon. W. L. Webber 321 

Chester B. Jones 325 

Hon. James F. Joj' 33i 

Hon. Albert Miller 337 

A. W. Wright 341 

Hon. L. B. Parker 345 

Hon. G. D. Williams 349 

Colonel Wm. L. P. Little 357 

Bradford Smith 361 

Spencer Barclay 367 

Hon. T. J. Campau 369 

Hon. Alfred Russell 379 

Dr. J. W. Kermott 381 

Hon. Zachariah Chandler 385 

Charles H. Borgman 389 

Hon. A. B. Turner 395 

Isaac Newton Swain 403 

Aaron Dikeman 413 

Major Lowell Hall 417 

James Scribner 421 

Hon. R. McClelland 425 

M. V. Borgman 487 

John P. Allison 443 

Hon. George V. N. Lothrop 449 

Hon. R. A. Haire 459 

E. H. Turner 461 

Hon. N. B. Eldredge 465 

Captain J. F. Marsac 469 

Hon. George W. Swift 473 

Sandf ord Howard 481 

Hon. D. Horton 485 

Hon. George E. Hubbard 489 

Rev. Marcus Swift 497 

Dr. G. L. Cornell 505 

Colin Campbell 509 

Hon. Wm. A. Burt 513 

Horace R. Gardner 525 



XU ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Hon. Thomas W. Ferry 529 

Myron Butman 537 

Hon. Thomas H. Bottomley 539 

Hon. John Ball 545 

Hon. Jay A. Hubbell 549 

General J. G Parkhurst 553 

Smith R. Woolley 559 

Hon A. N.Hart 561 

Dr. L. Younghusband 565 

Hon. E. S Eggleston 569 

Professor David Parsons 573 

General A. T. McReynolds 577 

D. M. Ferry 583 

Hon Ira Mayhevv 585 

James Nail, jr 589 

James W. Frisbie 593 

J. H. Gold.smith 597 

Hon. C. C. Comstock 601 

Hon. Jonathan Shearer 605 

Okemos 609 

Edgar Conkling 613 

Hon. John S. Barry 617 

Hon. Moses Wisner 631 

Hon. E Ransom 625 

Hon. Wm. Woodbridge 629 

Hon. O. D. Conger 633 

Hon. Israel V. Harris 641 

Hon. David H. Jerome 645 

Hon. George Willard 649 

Hon O. M Barnes 653 

Hon. A. C. Baldwin 659 

Hon. Charles Rynd, M. D 661 

Hon. Henry H. Crapo 665 

Hon. Joseph Campau 679 

Hon. H. M. Look 693 

Hon. J. W. Gordon 701 

Hon. Wm. L. Greenly ^ 703 

Hon. Wm. C. Duncan 713 

Hon. Wm. W. Wheaton 716 

Hon. Alexander H. Morrison 722 

Hon. John S. Horner 725 

Hon. Alpheus Felch 737 

Hon. Kinsley S. Bingham 729 

Hon. Stevens T. Mason 731 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

rrance moves to establish a colony in America— Cartier proceeds to Canada— 
His second voyage — Roberval's expedition — Other French expeditions— 
Champlain's first expedition to the St Lawrence— He forms a settlement at 
Quebec 17 

CHAPTER n. 

Champlain and his infant colony— A pleasant winter in the new fort— Condition 
of Indian aflairs -The natives— New France ceded to England in 1629— 
Champlain returns to France 29 

CHAPTER HI. 

History of New France from the war with the English in 1629 to that of 1689— 
The French and the Iroquois— Colonial history— The government of Fronte- 
nac— Defeat of the English 38 

CHAPTER IV. 

History of New France from the administration of Frontenac to its overthrow 
by "the English, at Quebec, in 1759— The battle of Quebec-The fall of Wolfe 
and Montcalm— Canada ceded to the English 58 

CHAPTER V. 

Progress of the French toward Michigan— The struggles and adventures of the 
missionaries— Life and death of the great and good Marquette— Pioneer life, 81 

CHAPTER VI. 

Robert de la Salle--First vessel on Lake Erie— Loss of the Griffin- Unfortunate 
expedition in search of the Mississippi— Mutinous conduct of LaSalle's 
men— Death of LaSalle— His character— Fate of his companions 102 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Sault Ste. Marie— Fort St. Josevih— Detroit founded— Its early condition- 
Attacked by the Ottawaa- By the Foxes— Early French travelers through 
the lake region 112 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Colonial emigrants— Merchants— The peasantry— French soldiers— Legal admin- 
istration-Policy of the French government— Mode of land distribution 122 

CHAPTER IX. 

War between the French and English colonies— Braddock's march— His defeat— 
Acadia, Niagai'a and Crown Point- Battle of Lake George— Condition of 
Canada 139 

CHAPTER X 

The English take possession of the western outposts of Canada— March of 
Major Rogers and the Provincial Rangers— Appearance of Pontiac— Surren- 
der of Detroit and Michilimackinac to the Luglish— End of French rule in 
Michigan 165 

CHAPTER XI. 

Hostility between the northern Indians and the English— Experience of the 
lirtst English traders who visited Michilimackinac— Their persecutions -The 
English soldiers take possession of Michilimackinac 172 



xiv CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XII. 

Hostility between the Indians and the English — Its cause explained —The 
Indians rising to drive the English from the country— Pontiac's message — 
The council and speech in which the conspiracy is matured— The war 189 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Michilimackinac — Description of the place in 1762 — Assembling of hostile 
Indians around Michilimackinac— Adventures of an P^nglish trader— The 
Indians preparing for the massacre— The game of ball commenced 200 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The massacre at Fort Michilimackinac— Indians drinking the blood of English- 
men-Sufferings of English prisoners— The Ottawas espouse the cause of the 
English and take possession of the fort— The Indian council 215 

CHAPTER XV. 

The English persecuted at Michilimackinac after the massacre— The adventure 
of Henry— Prisoners divided between the Chippewas and the Ottawas — Lieu- 
tenant Corell rescues the prisoners from the Ottawas, and the English leave 
the country —Escape of Heury 229 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Conspiracy of Pontiac, continued— The plot to destroy the garrison of Detroit 
discovered— Pontiac commences the siege— Captain Campbell's captivitj'— 
Pontiac demands the surrender of the fort 248 

CHAPTER XVII. 

Conspiracy of Pontiac, continued— A council among the officers of tlie fort of 
Detroit— Gladwyn determines to hold out— Difficulty between Pontiac and 
the French— Fate of Cuylers expedition— The horrors of Indian warfare 
thickening around Detroit 264 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Conspiracy of Pontiac. continued— Fate of the forest garrison— The m.assacre at 
Fort St. Joseph— The fate of Sandusky, Miami, Ouatanon, Presque Isle, Le 
Boeuf and Venango— The reign of blood and havoc— The bloody work of the 
great Pontiac and his treacherous followers 276 

CHAPTER XIX. 

Conspii-acy of Pontiac, continued- The siege of Detroit— Adventure of a British 
schooner on the Detroit river— Mode of Indian warfare— Pontiac inviting the 
Ereuch to join his ami)'- Another council— Exchange of prisoners 282 

CHAPTER XX. 

Conspiracy of Pontiac, continued— The battle of Bloody Run— Captain Dalzell's 
detachhient slaughtered by the savages— Adventure of the schooner Glad- 
wyn— The Indians sue for peace— Approach of winter 296 

CHAPTER XXI. 

Conclusion of Pontiac's war— The siege of Detroit raised — Bradstreet in the 
west— The English at peace— The Revolutionary War— Instigating savages 
to take American scalps— Captain Byrd's expedition— Hamilton's expedition 
—His capture— DePeysler commands at Detroit— American liberty trium- 
phant—Peace restorecl 312 

CHAPTER XXII. 

The retention of the western posts by Great Britain after the treaty of 1783— 
Northwestern Territory organized— Indian troubles again— The great war 
council at Detroit — Campaign of General Harmer — St. Clair's defeat- 
Wayne's victories— Michigan surrendered to the United States 324 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

William Hull a))iiointed governor of the Territory of Michigan- Tecumseh's 
warriors assembling— An .army raised in Ohio— It marches to Detroit under 
General Hull — War declared between England and the United States— Hull 
advances into Canada 330 



CONTENTS. XV 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

Michilimackinac— Removal of the fort to Mackinaw island— Condition of the 
fort and settlement in 181'2— Captain Kol)erts' expedition captures the fort— 
The garrison sent to Detroit— The English once more in possession of Mack- 
inaw 344 

CHAPTER XXV. 

General Hull's cowardice— He evacuates Canada -Alleged treason— A detach- 
ment sent to meet Colonel Brush— The fort surrendered to the British — 
Indig'nation of the army— Colonel Brush escapes— Detroit again under the 
British flag 353 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

The British celebrating their success at Detroit —Account of General Brock's 
ex])edition against Detroit— Scenes and circumstances in and about Detroit 
after the surrender— The massacre at Chicago— Commodore Perry on Lake 
Erie -Harrison's campaign— Recapture of the western posts, including 
Detroit, by the United States 365 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

Mackinaw— Expedition under Commodore Sinclair and Colonel Croghan for its 
reduction- (Jolonel Turner captures the Perseveranci; at St. Mary's and 
reduces that post— Capture of the Mink— Destruction of goods belonging to 
the Northwest Company— Landing of the forces at Mackinaw— Fall of Major 
Holmes— Defeat of the "Americans -Full account of the battle, etc 377 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

The ordinance of 1787— Erection of the Territory of Michiiian— Its boundary — 
Judicial administration— The Woodward code of laws— Governor Hull— His 
trial by court-martial 394 

CHAPTER XXIX. 

General Cass appointed governor -Defenseless condition of the Territory- 
Indian depredations around Detroit— Bravery and energy of General Cass— 
His treaty with the Indians— Condition of Michigan at the close of the war 
— E.vpetlitiou of General Cass to the Upper Peninsula— Discoveries— Pros- 
perity of the Territory under Cass' administration— The treaty of Chicago- 
Execution of Indians 402 

CHAPTER XXX. 

The administration of Governor Porter— The Black Hawk war— Construction 
of roads— The lirst railroad company organized— Banks chartered— Common 
Schools organized- Change in the method of disposing of public lands — 
Death of Governor Porter 441 

CHAPTER XXXI. 

The organization of a State government— The boundary question — The Toledo 
war— Incidents and accidents— Settlement of the question— Admission of 
Michigan into the Union 448 

CHAPTER XXXII. 

Michigan as a State— Resources and population— Administration of Governor 
Mason— Woodbridge — Gordon — Barrj- — Felch— Greenly — Ransom— Barry— 
McClelland -Bingham— Wisuer 480 

CHAPTER XXXIII. 

Administration of Governor Blair— The war of the rebellion— Patriotic action 
of Michigan— The troops sent to the fleld— The draft— Governor Crapo's 
administration— close of the war— The troops return home— Financial con- 
dition of the State 494 

CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Governor Henry P. Baldwin's administration— Steady growth of the State — 
Constitutional amendment— Governor Baldwin's re-electiou— The State Cap- 
itol—The great and destructive fires in Michigan— The Soldiers' and Sailors' 
3Ionument— Administration of Governor BagLey 536 



Xvi CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XXXV. 
Present condition of Michigan railroads 544 

CHAPTER XXXVI. 

Mineral and forest wealth of Michigan— Iron— Copper— Salt— Gypsum— Coal- 
Other minerals— Lumber 672 

CHAPTER XXXVII. 

Education in Michigan— The common school Bystem— The University- Agricul- 
tural College— State Normal School— Albion College— Adrian College— Kala- 
mazoo College— Hillsdale College— Olivet College— State Reform School- 
State Public School— Asylum for the Ueaf, Dumb and Blind— Michigan 
Female Seminary— Detroit Medical College— Detroit Homeopathic College- 
Goldsmith's Bryant & Stratton Business University— Mayhew's Business 
College 596 

CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
Agriculture— Manufactures— Commerce 640 

CHAPTER XXXIX. 

Mineral Springs of Michigan— Their discovery— Analyses of the waters— The 
location of each— The St Louis Spring— Alpena— Midland— Eaton Rapids- 
Spring Lake— Lansing— Fruitport— Butterworth's— Owosso— Hubbardston — 
Leslie— Mount Clemens 658 

Governors and oflicers of Michigan 671 

Population of Michigan 674 

Sketch of Grand Rapids 689 

Sketch of Adrian 698 

Sketch of Detroit 706 

Sketch of Flint 718 



THE HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



CHAPTER I. 



France Moves to Establish a Colony in America — Cartier Pro- 
ceeds TO Canada — His Second Voyage — Roberval's Expedition 
— Other French Expeditions — Champlain's First Expedition 
to the St. Lawrence — He Forms a Settlement at Quebec. 

Other volumes of this work, treating of other States, give a 
complete narrative of the efforts of England and Spain to colonize 
the New World. Hence, in this place, it is sufficient to trace only 
the movements of France, in her unfoi|tunate struggle to plant a 
permanent branch of empire in America. This is the more expe- 
dient since only the name of the latter is associated with the first 
settlement of Michigan. 

At the beginning of the sixteenth century the discoveries of 
Christopher Columbus and Sebastian Cabot were creating consid- 
erable excitement in France, and Francis I granted a commission 
to Jacques Cartier, of St. Malo, authorizing him to prosecute dis- 
coveries in the far West. Cartier's outfit for this expedition con- 
sisted of two ships, of sixty tons burden each, and a crew of sixty- 
one efficient men. He set sail for America from St. Malo on the 
20th of April, 1584. 

This was by no means the first western movement of civilization. 
The Spaniards already occupied Florida; the English had taken 
possession of the middle portion of the continent, and the north- 
ern regions alone remained for the French. To the latter point 
the brave commander directed his little fleet. He made a safe 
voyage, and after exploring the northern coast of Newfoundland, 
he returned to France, reaching St. Malo on the 15th of Septem- 
ber, 1534. 

2 



18 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. , 

He gave a very favorable account of the new country to the 
French court, which was well received ; but subsequent develop- 
ments proved that he had done little more than land on the north- 
western banks of Newfoundland. Fearing the consequences of 
the autumnal storms upon his ships, he remained but a few weeks. 
Nevertheless he had seen enough to persuade the belief that a 
fruitful country lay beyond, in the direction of Michigan and the 
surrounding States. 

Immediately after Cartier's return to France preparations began 
for a second expedition. Three vessels were fitted out with a view 
to a more extended voyage. They were the Great Herminia, of 
about one hundred and twenty tons; the Little Herminia, of sixty 
tons, and the Hermirillon, of forty tons. The first named was 
the flag ship. 

Tlie fleet set sail on the loth of May, 1585. This was a very 
important day at St. Malo. Every adventurer about to sail for 
the New World was an object of much interest to the inhabitants, 
and not a little pains were taken to celebrate their departure. In 
the hour of separation from kindred and country, the priests of 
their religion had sought to propagate their future comfort and 
support by preparing a gorgeous pageant. The officers and crews 
of the whole squadron confessed, and received the sacrament. 
Afterwards they presented themselves before the altar in the great 
cathedral at St. Malo, where the bishop, arrayed in sacerdotal 
robes of rare magnificence, bestowed on them his benediction. 

An account of the voyage, which was many years after jiub- 
lished in a French journal, states that it was very tempestuous. 
Many of the crew suffered unnumbered hai'dships, but after many 
days of toil and discontent, the eastern banks of Newfoundland 
again appeared to the eye of the adventurous commander. After 
five or six hours' sail, the squadron being in a higher latitude than 
Cartier had supposed, they passed the coast of the island, and still 
continuing their course, they entered, on St. Lawrence day, a 
broad gulf In commemoration of this event, they gave the 
name of St. Lawrence to the gulf, and to the great river that 
flows into it, which they bear to this day. 

Proceeding up the river's course, they found themselves, in a 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 19 

few days, opposite the Indian village of Stadacona, then occupy- 
ing a portion of the ground on which the city of Quebec now 
stands. As the vessels came to an anchor, the terrified natives 
fled to the forest, where they gazed with mingled feelings of awe 
and wonder on the "winged canoes" which had borne the pale- 
faced strangers to their shores. 

The Indians at once resolved on a wary intercourse with the 
strangers. Their chief, Donacona, approached the vessels with a 
fleet of twelve canoes, filled with ariiied warriors. Ten of these 
canoes he directed to remain a short distance, while he proceeded 
with the other two to ascertain the j^urport of the visit — whether 
it was for peace or war. With this object in view, he commenced 
an oration. Cartier heard the chief patiently, and with the aid 
of a Gaspe Indian interpreter, he was enabled to open a conver- 
sation, and to quiet his apprehensions. An amicable understand- 
ing having thus been established, Cartier moored his vessels safely 
in the River St. Charles, where, shortly afterwards, he received a 
second visit from Donacona, who, this time, came accompanied by 
five hundred warriors of his tribe. 

Having thoroughly rested and refreshed himself and his men, 
Cartier determined to explore the river to Hochelaga, another 
Indian town, which he learned was situated further up its course. 
With the view of impressing the Indians with the superiority of 
the white man, he caused, prior to his departure, several cannon 
shots to be discharged, which produced the desired result. Like 
their countrymen of the South on the arrival of Columbus, the 
red men of the St. Lawrence were alarmed by the firing of artil- 
lery; and, as its thunders reverberated among the surrounding 
hills, a feeling of terror took complete possession of their minds. 

Leaving his other ships safely at anchor, Cartier, on the 19th of 
September, proceeded up the river with the Hermirillon and two 
boats. He was compelled, however, owing to the shallowness of 
the water, to leave the vessel at Lake St. Peter. Bold, and loving- 
adventure for its own sake, and at the same time strongly imbued 
with religious enthusiasm, Cartier watched the shifting landscape, 
hour after hour, as he ascended the river, with feelings of the 
deepest gratification, which were heightened by the reflection that 



20 GEXERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

he was the pioneer of civilization and of Christianity in that 
unknown clime. "Nature," says MacMullen, "presented itself in 
all its primitive grandeur to his view. The noble river, on whose 
broad bosom he floated onward, day after day, disturbing vast 
flocks of water fowl ; the primitive forests of the North, which 
here and there presented, amid the luxuriance of their foliage, 
the parasitical vine, loaded with clusters of luscious grapes, and 
from whence the strange notes of the whippowil, and other birds 
of varied tone and plumage, such as he had never before seen, 
were heard at intervals; the bright sunshine of a Canadian 
autumn ; the unclouded moonlight of its calm and pleasant nights, 
with the other novel accessories of the occasion, made a sublime 
and profound impression upon the mind of the adventurer." 

Cartier arrived, on the 2d of October, opposite the Huron vil- 
lage of Hochelaga, the inhabitants of which lined the shore on 
his approach, and made the most friendly signs to him to land. 
Supplies of fish and corn were freely tendered by the Indians, 
in return for which they received knives and beads. Despite this 
friendly conduct, however, Cartier and his companions deemed it 
most prudent to pass the night on board their boats. 

On the following day, headed by their leader, dressed in the 
most imposing costume at his command, the exploring party 
went in procession to the village. At a short distance from its 
environs they were met by a sachem, who received them with that 
solemn courtesy peculiar to the aborigines of America. Cartier 
made him several presents. Among these was a cross, which he 
hung round his neck and directed him to kiss. Patches of ripe 

HON. LEWIS CASS. 

The lale Hon. Lewis Cass was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, Octo- 
ber 9, 1782. Having received a limited education in his native place, at 
the earl}' age of seventeen he crossed the Alleghany ^Mountains on foot, 
to seek a home in the " Great West," then an almost unexplored wilder- 
ness. Settled at Marietta, Ohio; he studied law and was successful. 
Elected at twenty-five to the Legislature of Ohio, he originated the bill 
which arrested the proceedings of Aaron Burr, which, as stated by Mr. 
Jefferson, was the first blow given to what is known as Burr's conspiracy. 
In 1807 he was appointed by Mr. Jeflerson ^Marshal of the State, and held 




HON. LEWIS CASS. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 23 

corn encircled the village, which consisted of fifty well built huts, 
secured from attack by three lines of stout palisades. It is 
recorded that Cartier did all that he could to soothe the minds of 
the savages, and that he even prayed with these idolaters, and dis- 
tributed crosses and other symbols of the Catholic faith among 
them. 

After the usual ceremonies with the Indians, Cartier ascended 
the mountain behind the native village. Here he erected a cross 
and a shield, emblazoned with the Fleur-de-lis, emblem of church 
and State, and named the region of his discoveries " New 
France." 

Favorably as Cartier had been received, the lateness of the 
season compelled his return to Stadacona. The adventurers win- 
tered in the St. Charles river, and continued to be treated with 
apparent kindness and hospitality by the Indians in that vicinity, 
who had fortunately laid up abundant stores of provisions. 
Unaccustomed, however, to the rigor of a Canadian winter, and 
scantily supplied Avith warm clothing, Cartier and his companions 
suffered severely from the cold. 

The long and tedious winter at length drew to a close ; the ice 
broke up, and, although the voyage had led to no gold dis- 
coveries or profitable returns in a mercantile point of vieAV, the 
expedition prepared to return home. They compelled Donacona, 
and two other chiefs and eight warriors, to bear them company to 
France, where a greater part of these unfortunate men died soon 
after their arrival. On reaching home Cartier reported to the 
French Court that the country he had discovered was destitute of 
gold and silver, and that its coast was bleak and stormy. 

the oflace till the latter part of 1811, when he volunteered to repel Indian 
aggressions on the frontier. He was elected Colonel of the Third Regi- 
ment of Ohio volunteers, and entered the military service of the United 
States at the commencement of the war of 1812. Having by a difficult 
march reached Detroit, he urged the immediate invasion of Canada, and 
was -the author of the proclamation of that event. He was the first to 
land in arms on the enemy's shore, and, with a small detachment of 
troops, fought and won the first battle, that of the Tarontoe. At the 
subsequent capitulation of Detroit he was absent on important service, 



24 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

This sad account had a most disastrous effect upon the energies 
already awakened in France, and not until four years after Car- 
tier's return was there a single movement in the whole empire 
looking toward a third exi)edition. Early in the year 1540 Fran- 
cis I granted patents covering all the territory north of British 
occupancy to Francoix de la Roque, Seigneur de Roberval. The 
commission also invested him with supreme power within its 
bounds. 

In the summer of the same year a squadron of five vessels was 
fitted out for New France. Cartier, who had already twice suc- 
cessfully reached the western hemisphere, was appointed to the 
command, and accordingly the fleet set sail to convey the French 
flag once more to America, After a very successful voyage, they 
reached the lake and river that had received its name from Car- 
tier four years previously, and, i^roceeding in a westerly course, 
they subsequently arrived at Stadacona. 

He was at first received with every appearance of kindness by 
the Indians, who expected that he had brought back their chief 
Donacoua, as well as the other chiefs and warriors who had been 
taken to France. On learning that some of these were dead, and 
that none of them would return, they offered considerable resist- 
ance to the formation of a settlement in their neighborhood. 

By these and other difficulties Cartier Avas induced to move 
higher up the river to Cape Rouge, where he laid up three of his 
vessels and sent the other two back to France with letters to the 
king. His next proceeding was to erect a fort, wdiich he called 
Charlesbourg. Here, after an unsuccessful attempt to navigate 

and regretted that his command and himself had been included in that 
capitulation. Liberated on parole, he repaired to the seat of government 
to report the causes of the disaster and the failure of the campaign. He 
was immediately appointed a Colonel in the regular army, and soon after 
promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, having in the meantime been 
elected Major-General of the Ohio volunteers. On being exchanged and 
released from parole, he again repaired to the frontier, and joined the 
array for the recovery of Michigan. Being at that time without a com- 
mand, he served and distinguished himself as a volunteer aide-de-camp to 
General Harrison at the battle of the Thames. He was appointed by 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 25 

the rapids above Hochelaga, he passed a most uncomfortable 
winter. 

The promised supplies not having arrived, another severe winter 
completely disheartened Cartier, and he accordingly resolved to 
return home. Putting into the harbor of St. John, Newfound- 
land, he encountered Roberval, who was now on his way to Canada, 
with a new company of adventurers, and an abundance of stores 
and provisions. Cartier refused to return, and, to avoid forcible 
detention, he weighed anchor in the night. On the following 
morning the viceroy arose and observed that his wearied servant 
had departed. Roberval sailed up the river to Charlesbourg, 
which he strengthened by additional fortifications, and where he 
passed the ensuing winter. Leaving a garrison of thirty men 
behind, he returned the following spring to France, where he was 
detained by his sovereign to assist in the war against Charles V. 

After the Peace of Cressy, Roberval, in company with his 
brother Achille and a numerous train of adventurers, again set 
out for this country. The fleet was never heard of after it put to 
sea, and was supposed to have foundered, to the regret of the 
people of France, who greatly admired the brothers for the gal- 
lant manner in which they had borne themselves in the war. 

This loss completely discouraged Henry II, then (1543) King 
of France, and he made no further efibrts to eftect a settlement in 
Canada. It was not, therefore, till 1598 that any noticeable 
movement was made by the French Government in projects of 
trans-Atlantic colonization. In this year the Marquis de la 
Roche, a nobleman of Brittany, encouraged by Henry, fitted out 



President Madison, in October, 1813, Governor of Michigan. His posi- 
tion combined witli the ordinary duties of chief magistrate of a civilized 
community the immediate management and control, as Superintendent, 
of the relations with the numerous and powerful Indian tribes in this 
region of country. He conducted with success the affairs of the Terri- 
tory under embarrassing circumstances. Under his swaj^ peace was 
preserved between the whites and the treacherous and disaffected 
Indians, law and order established, and the Territory rapidly advanced 
in population, resources and prosperity. He held this position till July, 
1831, when he was by President Jackson made Secretary of War. In the 



26 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

a large expedition, which convicts were permitted to join, as it was 
then difficult to find voluntary adventurers owing to former disas- 
ters. Armed with the most ample governmental powers, the Mar- 
quis departed to the new world, under the guidance of Chedotel, 
a pilot of Normandy. But he lacked the qualities necessary to 
insure success, and little is recorded of his voyage, with the excep- 
tion that he left forty convicts on Sable Island, a barren sj^ot off 
the coast of Nova Scotia. Owing to the failure of this adven- 
ture, and his attempts to equip another being thwarted at Court, 
the Marquis fell sick shortly after his return home, and literally 
died of chagrin. The unfortunate convicts whom he left behind 
were entirely forgotten for several years, and suffered the most 
intense hardships. Their clothes were soon worn out, their provi- 
sions exhausted. Clad in the skin of the sea-wolf, subsisting 
upon the precarious supplies afforded by fishing, and living in 
rude huts formed from the planks of a wrecked vessel, famine and 
cold gradually reduced their number to twelve. After a residence 
on the island of twelve years, these wretched men w'ere found in 
the most deplorable condition hj a vessel sent out by the Parlia- 
ment of Rouen to ascertain their fate. On their retura to France 
they were brought before Henry, who pardoned their crimes in 
consideration of the great hardships they had undergone, and 
gave them a liberal donation in money. 

In 1599 another expedition was resolved on by Chauvin, of 
Rouen, a naval officer of reputation, and Pontgrave, a sailor mer- 
chant of St. Malo, who, in consideration of a monopoly of the 
fur trade granted them by Henry, undertook to establish a colony 
of five hundred persons in Canada. In the spring of 1600 two 
vessels were equipped, and Chauvin, taking a party of settlers 

latter part of 1836 President Jackson appointed him Minister to France, 
where he remained until 1842, when lie requested his recall and returned 
to this country. In .January, 1845, he was elected by the Legislature of 
Michigan to the Senate of the United States, which place he resigned on 
his nomination, in May, 1848, as a candidate for the Presidency by the 
political party to which he belonged. After the election of his opponent 
(General Taylor) to that office, the Legislature of Michigan, in 1849, 
re-elected him to the Senate for the unexpired portion of his original 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 27 

with him, arrived safely at Tadoussac. He erected a fort at this 
place, and duriug the summer he obtained a considerable stock of 
very valuable furs for the most trifling consideration. Being 
anxious to dispose of these to advantage, he returned to France 
on the approach of winter, leaving sixteen settlers behind. These 
were slenderly provided with provisions and clothing, and in the 
cold weather Avere reduced to such distress that they had to throw 
themselves completely on the hospitality of the natives. From 
these they experienced much kindness, yet so great were the hard- 
ships they endured that several of them died before succor arrived 
from France. Chauvin's death, in 1603, left Canada without a 
permanent white settlement, yet the spirit of enterprise that had 
taken firm hold of the more adventurous did not become weak- 
ened. 

After two more unsuccessful expeditions, one under the direc- 
tion of De Chaste, and the other under De Mots, the latter 
obtained in 1607 a commission from King Henry for one year, 
and, owing to the representations of Samuel Champlain, who had 
conducted the expedition under De Chaste, he now resolved to 
establish a French settlement on the St. Lawrence. Fitting out 
two vessels, he placed them under the command of Champlain, a 
bold and experienced navigator. The exj^edition set sail from 
Harfleur on the 13th of April, 1608, and arrived at Tadoussac on 
the 3d of June. Here Pontgrave remained to trade with the 
Indians while Champlain proceeded up the river to examine its 
banks, and determine upon a suitable site for the settlement he 
was to found. After a careful scrutiny, he fixed upon a promon- 
tory distinguished by a luxuriant growth of vines, and shaded by 
some noble walnut trees, called by the natives " Qubio " or " Que- 

term of six j-ears. When Mr. Bucliauan became President, he invited 
General Cass to the head of the Department of State, which position he 
resigned in December, 1860. He devoted some attention to literary pur- 
suits, and his writings, speeches and State papers would make several 
volumes, among which is one entitled, "France, its King, Court and 
Government," published in 1840. 

He died in Detroit, June 17, 1866, and will long be remembered as the 
most eminent and successful statesman of Michigan. 



28 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

bee," and which was situated a short distance from the spot where 
Cartier had erected a fort, and passed a winter sixty-seven years 
before. Here, on the 3d of July, 1608, he hxid the foundation of 
the present city of Quebec. Rude buildings of wood were first 
erected on the high grounds, to afford a shelter to his men. When 
these were completed an embankment was formed above the reach 
of the tide, where Mountain street now lies, on which the house 
and battery were built. With the exception of Jamestown, in 
Virginia, this was the first permanent settlement established in 
North America. 

Having followed the French in their repeated journeys across 
the ocean, and left them in their first successful settlement, we 
will next trace their footsteps in those western voyages of dis- 
covery and adventure that secured the early settlement of the 
peninsular State. 



CHAPTER II. 



Champlain akd His Infant Colony — A Pleasant Wintek ln the 
New Fokt — Condition of Indian Affairs — The Nati\':es — New 
France Ceded to England in 1629 — Champlain Returns to 
France. 

Samuel Champlain, as already observed, founded the settle- 
ment of Quebec in 1608. This was the first permanent foothold 
of civilization in Canada. The little garrison passed the winter 
of 1608 without suffering any of those extreme hardships which, 
during the same period of the year, had distinguished the resi- 
dence of former adventurers in Canada. Their dwellings being 
better protected from the cold, their persons more warmly clothed, 
more abundantly supplied with provisions, and with a greater 
amount of experience than their predecessors possessed, they dis- 
covered that a winter existence among the snows of the North 
was not only possible, but even had its pleasures. 

Winter gradually merged towards spring without producing 
any incident of very great importance to the infant colony. 
Meanwhile everything had been done to preserve a good under- 
standing with Indians who visited the fort. Champlain wisely 
perceived that the success of the settlement of the country 
depended upon their friendship. Nor were the Indians them- 
selves, who belonged to the Algonquin nation, averse to the culti- 
vation of a friendly understanding wuth the French. 

The spring of 1609 seems to have been an early one with the 
colony, and no sooner had the weather become sufficiently warm 
to make traveling agreeable, than Champlain prepared to ascend 
the river, and explore it above Mount Royal. He spent the sum- 
mer in the vicinity of the St. Lawrence, and made many valuable 
discoveries. In the autumn a disarrangement in affairs in France 
caused his return home. In the spring of 1610 he again visited 



30 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

his little colony, and again returned to France in the autumn of 
that year. 

In IGII Champlain returned to America, and determined to 
establish a settlement further up the river than Quebec. After a 
careful survey he fixed upon a site near Mount Royal. His 
choice has been amply justified by the great prosperity to which 
this place, under the nanie of Montreal, has subsequently risen. 
Having cleared a considerable space of ground, he fenced it in by 
an earthen ditch, and planted grain in the enclosure. 

Champlain again returned to France with a view of making 
arrangements for more extensive t)perations. After meeting with 
some difiiculties, he sailed for Canada from Harfleur in the begin- 
ning of March, 1618, and arrived at Quebec on the 7th of May 
following. He at once commenced the prosecution of discoveries. 
On the 21st of May he arrived at Lachine Rapids, and proceeded 
with his crew up the Ottawa. In the latter undertaking he expe- 
rienced severe hardships, and encountered numerous difficulties. 
After traversing large tracts of country, and visiting several 
Indian villages, Champlain, observing the approach of winter, 
and the need of supplies, returned to France on the 26th of 
August, 1614. 

In the following May, Champlain arrived at Quebec with a 
new expedition. On board of this fleet came out four fathers of 
the order of the Recollects, whose benevolence induced them to 
desire the conversion of the Indians to Christianity. These were 
the first priests who settled in Canada. 

After adjusting matters in the little colony, Champlain set out 
for the Indian headquarters at Lachine Rapids. He spent the 
summer and the following winter among the natives, aiding them 
in their wars with the Iroquois, and joining them in the hunt. 
No sooner had the spring of 1616 set in, however, than he 
returned to Quebec, and shortly afterward sailed for France. 
Here he remained over two years, endeavoring to secure another 
expedition. This was delayed by a diffieulty between the Prot- 
estants and Roman Catholics, and not until July, 1620, did the 
father of New France return to his charge. 

Champlain's judicious management soon led to the arrival of 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 31 

additional settlers, and in 1623 the settlement of Quebec alone 
had fifty inhabitants. 

Without attempting the details in the early history of Canada, 
we will push forward in the channel of events, toward the settle- 
ment of Michigan. The reader must remember, however, that 
the early history of this State cannot be made authentic and com- 
plete without including much from the records of that country to 
which our earliest settlements owe their existence. 

On the first settlement of the French in Canada, three great 
nations divided the territory — the Algonquins, the Hurons, and 
the Iroquois or Five Nations. The dominion of the Algonquins 
extended along the banks of the St. Lawrence about a hundred 
leagues, and they were once considered as masters of this part of 
America. They are said to have had a milder aspect and more 
polished manners than any other tribe. They subsisted entirely 
by hunting, and looked with disdain on their neighbors who con- 
descended to cultivate the ground. A small remnant of this race 
is still to be found at the Lake of the Two Mountains, and in the 
neighborhood of Three Rivers. 

The Hurons, or Wyandots, were a numerous people, whose very 
extensive territory reached from the Algonquin frontier to the 
borders of the great lake bearing their name. They were more 
industrious, and derived an abundant subsistence from the fine 
country they possessed, but they were more effeminate, and had 
less of the proud indej^endence of savage life. When first known 
they were engaged in a deadly war with their kindred, the Five 
Nations, by whom they were finally driven from their country. 
A remnant of this tribe is still to be found in La Jeuue Lorrette, 
near Quebec. 

The Iroquois, or Five Nations, destined to act the most conspic- 
uous part among all the native tribes, occupied a long range of 
territory on the southern border of the St. Lawrence, extending 
from Lake Champlain to the western extremity of Lake Ontario. 
They were thus beyond the limits of what is now termed Canada, 
but were so connected with the interests of this country that we 
must consider them as belonging to it. The Five Nations, found 
on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, embraced the Mohawks, 



32 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Oneidas, Onondagas, Senecas and Cayugas. They were the most 
powerful of all the tribes east of the Mississippi, and were further 
advanced in the few arts of Indian life than their Algonquin 
neighbors. They uniformly adhered to the British during the 
whole of the contest that took place subsequently between the 
French and English. In 1714 they were joined by the Tusca- 
roras, since which time the confederacy has been called the Six 
Nations. 

After the return of Champlain to France in 1616, the interests 
of the colony were in great danger from the Prince of Cond6, 
Viceroy of Canada, being not only in disgrace, but in confinement 
for the share taken by him in the disturbances during the minor- 
ity of Louis XIII. After a great deal of quarreling amongst 
the merchants, the Due de Montmorency made an arrangement 
with Coud^ for the purchase of his office of Viceroy, which he 
obtained upon the payment of 11,000 crowns. Champlain con- 
sidered this arrangement as every way favorable, as the Due was 
better qualified for such functions, and from his situation of High 
Admiral possessed the liest means of forwarding the objects of the 
colonists. 

Disputes between Rochelle and the other commercial cities, and 
between the C-atholics and Protestants, prevented the departure 
of any expedition for several years. During this time attempts 
were made to degrade Champlain from the high situation in which 
he had been placed, but by virtue of commissions, both from 
Montmorency and the king, he succeeded in crushing this oppo- 
sition ; and in May, 1620, set sail with his family and a new expe- 
dition, and after a very tedious voyage arrived at Tadoussac. The 
first child born of French parents at Quebec, was the son of 
Abraham Martin and Margai-et L'Anglois; it was christened 
"Eustache" on the 24th of May, 1621. 

The office of Viceroy liad lieen hitherto little more than a name, 
but at this pei'iod it came into the h;inds of a man of energy and 
activity. The Due de Veutadour having entered into holy orders, 
took charge as Viceroy of the affairs of New France solely with 
the view of converting the natives. For this purpose he sent 
three Jesuits and two lav brothers, who were, fortunately, men of 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 33 

exemplary character, to join the four Recollects at Quebec. The.'^e 
nine were the only priests then in Canada. 

The mercantile company, which had now been intrusted with 
the affairs of the colony for some time, was by no means active, 
and was in consequence deprived of its charter, which was given 
to the Sieurs De Caen, uncle and nephew. On the arrival of the 
younger De Caen at Tadoussac, Champlain set out to meet him, 
and was received with the greatest courtesy. The appointment of 
a superintendent could not have been very agreeable to Cham- 
plain, who was certainly the person best fitted for the manage- 
ment of the local affairs of the colony. His amiable disposition 
and love of peace, however, induced him to use conciliatory 
measures. The new superintendent, on the contrary, acted in a 
most violent manner, claimed the right of seizing on the vessels 
belonging to the associated merchants, and actually took that of 
De Pont, their favorite agent. Champlain remonstrated with him, 
but without effect, as he possessed no power that could effectually 
check the violence of this new dictator. Fortunately he thought 
proper to return to France, and left with the settlers a good sup- 
ply of provisions, arms and ammunition. His conduct, however, 
induced the greater part of the European traders to leave the 
colony; so that, eventually, instead of its being increased by him, 
it was considerably lessened, a spirit of discontent diffused, and 
the settlers were reduced to forty-eight. 

Having got rid of the troublesome superintendent, Champlain 
set himself earnestly to terminate the long and desolating war 
which now raged between the Hurons and the Iroquois. He 
accompanied some of the chiefs to the headquarters of the Iro- 
quois, where they met with a very kind reception. The treaty 
between the nations was about to be concluded when it was nearly 
broken off by the relentless conduct of a savage Huron, who had 
accompanied the party in the hope of making mischief and pre- 
venting peace. This barbarian, meeting one of the detested Iro- 
quois in a lonely place, murdered him. Such a deed in a member 
of any civilized mission would have terminated all negotiations; 
but, the deputies having satisfied the Iroquois that it was an indi- 

3 



34 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES 

vidual act, lamented by the Huron nation, it was overlooked, and 
the treaty was concluded. 

The colony was at that time in a very unsatisfactory state, 
the settlements at Quebec consisting only of fifty-five persons. 
Indeed the whole of the available possessions in New France 
included only the fort at Quebec, surrounded by some inconsider- 
able houses, a few huts on the island of Montreal, as many at 
Tadoussac, and at other places on the St. Lawrence, and a settle- 
ment just commenced at Three Rivers. 

The Indian affairs were also in disorder. The Iroquois had 
killed a party of five on their way to attack a nation called the 
AVolves, and a hostile spirit was kindled amongst these fierce 
tribes. Champlain did all in his power to check the spirit, but 
he found it impossible to prevent a body of hot-headed young 
Indians from making an inroad into the Iroquois territory. 

This band, having reached Lake Champlain, surprised a canoe 
with three persons in it, two of whom they brought home in tri- 
umph. The preparations for torturing them were already going 
on when intelligence was conveyed to Champlain, who immediately 
repaired to the spot. The sight of the captives quickened his 
ardor in the cause of humanity, and he entreated that they might 
be sent home unhurt, with presents to compensate for this Avanton 
attack. 

This advice was so far adopted that one of them was sent back, 
accompanied by a chief and one Mangau, a Frenchman. This 
expedition had, however, a most tragical end. An Algonquin, 
who wished for war, contrived to persuade the Iroquois that the 
mission was devised with the most treacherous intentions. The 
Iroquois, misled by this wicked man, determined to take cool and 
deliberate revenge. When the poor prisoner, the chief and the 
Frenchman arrived, they found the fire kindled and the cauldron 
boiling, and, being courteously received, were invited to sit down. 
The Iroquois then asked the Algonquin chief if he did not feel 
hungry. On his replying that he did, they rushed upon him and 
cut slices from different parts of his body, which soon after they 
presented to him half cooked; and thus continued to torture him 
till he died in lingering agonies. Their couutrvman, who had 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 35 

returned to them so gladly, attempted to escape, and was shot 
dead on the spot; and the Frenchman was tormented to death in 
the usual manner. 

When the news of this dreadful tragedy reached the allies of 
the French, the war-cry was immediately sounded, and Champlain, 
though deeply afflicted, saw no longer any possibility of averting 
hostilities. He felt that, as one of his countrymen had been 
deprived of life, the power of the French would be held in con- 
tempt if no resentment were shown. Indeed he experienced no 
little trouble amongst the friendly tribes who surrounded him, and 
in several cases Europeans were murdered in an atrocious and 
mysterious manner. 

In the meantime the De Caens, though not resident in the col- 
ony, took an active interest in the fur trade. Being Huguenots, 
however, and not likely to forward the Due's measures, Cardinal 
Richelieu, prime minister to Louis XIII, revoked the privileges 
which had been granted to them, and encouraged the formation of 
a company, to be composed of a great number of men of property 
and credit. A charter was granted to this company in 1637, 
under the title of " The Company of One Hundred Associates." 

This company engaged, first, to supply those that they settled 
with lodging, food, clothing and implements for three years, after 
which time they would allow them sufficient land to support them- 
selves, cleared to a certain extent, with the grain necessary for 
sowing it; secondly, that the emigrants should be native French- 
men and Roman Catholics, and that no stranger or heretic should 
be introduced into the country; and, thirdly, they engaged to 
settle three priests in each settlement, whom they were bound to 
provide with every article necessary for their personal comfort, as 
w^ell as the expenses of their ministerial labors, for fifteen years. 
After which clear lands were to be granted by the company to the 
clergy, for maintaining the Roman Catholic Church in New 
France. 

In return for these services the King made over to the company 
the fort and settlement at Quebec, and all the territory of New 
France, including Florida, with power to appoint judges, build 
fortresses, cast cannon, confer titles, and take what steps they 



36 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

might think proper for the protection of the colony and the fos- 
tering of commerce. He granted to them at the same time a 
complete monopoly of the fur trade, reserving to himself and 
heirs only supremacy in matters of faith, fealty and homage as 
sovereign of New France, and the presentation of a crown of gold 
at every new succession to the throne. He also secured for the 
benefit of all his subjects, the cod and whale fisheries of the gulf 
and coast of St. Lawrence. 

The company were allowed to import and export all kinds of 
merchandise duty free. Gentlemen, both clergy and laity, were 
invited to a share in the concern, which they readily accepted till 
the number of partners was completed. This was a favorite 
scheme of Richelieu's ; and the French writers of the day speak 
of it with great ap2:>lause, as calculated, had it been strictly 
adhered to and wisely regulated, to render New France the most 
powerful colony in America. 

This plan of improvement met with a temporary interruption 
by the breaking out of the war between England and France in 
1628. Charles I, of England, immediately gave to Sir David 
Kirkt, a French refugee, a commission authorizing him to conquer 
Canada. In consequence of this, after some offensive operations 
at Tadoussac, he appeared with his squadron before Quebec, and 
summoned it to surrender; but he was answered in so spirited a 
manner that he judged it prudent to retire. 

In 1629, however, when Champlain was reduced to the utmost 
extremity, by the want of every article of food, clothing, imple- 
ments and ammunition, and exposed to the attacks of the Iro- 
quois, Sir David Kirkt, and his brothers Louis and Thomas, 
appeared again with a squadron before Quebec. The deplorable 
situation of the colony, and the very honorable terms proposed to 
him by Kirkt, induced Champlain to surrender Quebec, with all 
Canada, to the crown of England. The English standard was 
thus for the first time raised on the walls of Quebec, just one hun- 
dred and thirty-five years before the battle of the Plains of 
Abraham. 

No blame can be attached to Champlain for this act, as famine 
pressed so closely on the colonists, that they were reduced to aii 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 37 

allowance of five ounces of bread per day for each person. Kirkt's 
generosity to the settlers, who were his own countrymen, induced 
most of them to remain. Those who wished to go were allowed 
to depart with their arms, clothes and baggage, and, though the 
request to convey them home to France could not be complied 
with, they were provided with a commodious passage by the way 
of England. 

Champlain, with two little native girls, whom he had carefully 
educated, arrived at Dover, in England, on the 27th of October. 
He proceeded thence to London, for the purpose of conferring 
with the French ambassador. He soon afterward returned to 
France, where, his counsels prevailing at the court of Louis XIII, 
he was, upon the return of peace, again invested with the govern- 
ment of Canada. 



CHAPTER III. 



History of New France, from the War with the English in 1629, 
TO that of 1689 — The French and the Iroquois — Colonial 
History — The Government of Frontenac — Defeat of the 
English. 

The English held possession of Canada for three years, but, 
attaching little or no value to the territory, they readily restored 
it to France at the Peace of St. Germain en Lage, which was con- 
cluded on the 19th of March, 1632. The great and good pioneer, 
Samuel Champlain, had the pleasure of reentering his beloved 
country once more with a squadron, containing all necessary sup- 
plies. He resumed the government of the colony which he had 
so long fostered, and continued to administer all its affairs with 
singular prudence, resolution and courage. 

Champlain continued to prosper the colony till 1635, when, full 
of honors and rich in public esteem and respect, he died, after an 
occasional residence in Quebec of nearly thirty years. His obse- 
quies were performed with all the pomp the little colony could 
command, and his remains were followed to the grave with real 
sorrow by the clergy, the civil and military authorities, and the 
inhabitants of every class, each feeling deeply the loss of a tried 
friend. 

The death of Champlain was the most grievous misfortune with 
which Canada had yet been visited. During the greater part of 
his active life the chief object of his heart was to become the 
founder of the colony which he felt confident would attain to a 
summit of extraordinary power and importance, and to civilize 
and convert its native inhabitants. So great was his zeal for reli- 
gion that it was a common saying with him, " The salvation of 
one soul was of more value than the conquest of an empire." 

It was just about the period of his death that the religious 
establishments, now so numerous, were commenced in Canada. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 39 

Though they did little for the immediate improvement of the 
colony, yet they formed the foundation on which arose those 
morals and habits which still characterize the French Canadians, 
and which in some instances merit admiration. The first mover 
in this work of benevolence was the Marquis de Gamche, whose 
fervor had led him to join the order of Jesuits. He conceived 
the design of forming a college at Quebec, and was enabled by 
his friends to offer six thousand gold crowns for this purpose. 
His proposal was readily accepted and carried into effect. An 
institution for instructing the Indians was also established at 
Sillery, a few miles from Quebec. The Hotel Dieu, or House of 
God, was founded two years afterwards by a party of Ursuline 
nuns, who came out under the auspices of the Duchesse d'Aiguil- 
lon. Madame de Peltrie, also, a young widow of rank, engaged 
several sisters of the Ursulines at Tours, in France, whom she 
brought out, at her own expense, to Quebec, where they founded 
the Convent of St. Ursula. 

The state of the Indian nations rendered the situation of M. de 
Montmagny, the governor, who succeeded Champlain in 1635, 
peculiarly critical. Owing to the weakness of the French, the 
Iroquois had advanced by rapid steps to great importance. They 
had completely humbled the power of the Algonquins, and closely 
pressed the Hurons, scarcely allowing their canoes to pass up and 
down the St. Lawrence. The governor was obliged to carry on a 
defensive warfare, and erected a fort at the Richelieu, by which 
river the Iroquois chiefly made their descents. 

At length these fierce people made proposals for a solid peace, 
which were received with great cordialty. The governor met 
their deputies at Three Rivers, where the Iroquois produced seven- 
teen belts, which they had arranged along a cord fastened between 
two stakes. Their orator then came along and addressed Mont- 
magny by the title of Oninthio, which signifies Great Mountain ; 
and, though it was in reference to his name, they continued ever 
after to apply this term to the French governors, sometimes add- 
ing the respectful appellation of Father. 

The orator declared their wish " to forget their songs of war, 
and to resume the voice of cheerfulness." He then proceeded to 



40 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

explain the meaning of the belts. They expressed the calming of 
the spirit of war, the opening of the paths, the mutual visits to 
be paid, the feasts to be given, the restitution of the captives, and 
other friendly proceedings. In conformity to Indian etiquette, 
the governor delayed his answer for two days, and then bestowed 
as many presents as he had received belts, and through au inter- 
preter expressed the most pacific sentiments. Piscaret, a great 
chief, then said, " Behold a stone wliich I place on the sepulchre 
of those who were killed in the war, that no one may attempt to 
move their bones, and that every desire of avenging their death 
may be laid aside." Three discharges of cannon were considered 
as sealing the treaty. This engagement was for some time faith- 
fully observed, and the Iroquois, the Algonquins and the Hurons 
forgot their deadly feuds, and mingled in the chase as if they had 
been one nation. M. de Montmagny appears to have commanded 
the general respect of the natives, but, owing to a change in the 
policy of the court, he was unexpectedly removed. 

Montmagny was succeeded by M. d'Aillebout, who brought 
with him a reinforcement of one hundred men. The benevolent 
Margaret Bourgeois, too, at this time founded the institution of 
the Daughters of the Congregation at Montreal, which is at pres- 
ent one of the first female seminaries in the colony. 

While the French settlements were thus in Canada, those of 
England on the eastern shore of America were making an equally 
rapid progress. A union among them seemed so desirable to the 
new governor that he proposed to the New England colonies a 
close alliance between them and the French ; one object of which 

LIEUT.-GOV. ANDREW PARSONS. 

Anuuew Parsons was born in the town of Hoosick, county of Rens- 
selaer and ytate of New York, on the 23d day of July, 1817, and died 
June 6, 1855, at the early age of thirty-eight years. He was the son of 
John Parsons, born at Newburyport, Mass., October 2, 1782, who was 
the son of Andrew Parsons, a revolutionary soldier, wlio was the son of 
Phineas Parsons, the son of Samuel Parsons, a descendant of Walter 
Parsons, born in Ireland in 1290. The name is still extant, and some one 
hundred and thirty years ago Bishop Gibson remarked, in his edition of 
Camden's Britannia, " The honorable family of Parsons have been 




LIEUT.-GOV. ANDREW PARSONS. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 43 

was ail eugagemeiit to assist each other, when necessary, in mak- 
ing war with the Five Nations. However desirous the English 
colonies might have been on other accounts to form such an alli- 
ance, the condition with respect to the Indians was not acceptable 
to them, and the negotiation was broken ofi'. Of what effects this 
union, if it had taken place, would have been productive, it is 
impossible now to conjecture. There is no doubt but that the 
failure of the proposition must have had an important bearing 
upon the events which followed ; first, in the continued rivalry of 
the two nations, and afterwards in the Avars between them, which 
did not end until the whole of Canada was subjected to Great 
Britain. 

At this period the missionaries began to combine with their 
religious efforts political objects, and employed all their influence 
in furthering the French power. Amongst other movements they 
induced a number of Iroquois to leave their own country and 
settle within the boundaries of the colony, but they do not appear 
to have succeeded in civilizing them. They found the Hurons, 
however, far more tractable and docile. It is said that nearly 
three thousand of them were baptized at one time. A consider- 
able change soon appeared in this wild region, and the christian- 
ized Indians were united in the villages of Sillery, St. Joseph and 
St. Mary. 

During the administration of M. d'Aillebout, the Iroquois 
renewed the war in all its fury, and these peaceable settlers found 
that their enemies could advance like foxes and attack like lions. 
While the missionary was celebrating the most solemn rites of his 

advanced to the dignity of viscounts, aud more lately Earls of Ross." 
The following are descendants of these families: 

Sir John Parsons,' born 148 1, was mayor of Hereford. 

Robert Parsons, born in 154G, lived near Bridgewater, England. He 
was educated at Ballial College, Oxford, and was a noted writer and 
defender of the Romish faith. He established an English college at 
Rome and another at Valladolid. 

Francis Parsons, born in 1556, was Vicar of Rothwell, in Nottingham. 

Bartholomew Parsons, born in 1618, was author of various noted 
sermons. 



44 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

church ill the village of Sillery, the war ciy was suddeuly raised, 
aud an indiscriminate massacre took place amongst the four hun- 
dred families residing there. Soon after, a band of the same people, 
amounting to a thousand, made an attack upon the mission of St. 
Ignace, and carried off or killed all the inhabitants except three. 
St. Louis was next attacked, and made a brave resistance, which 
enabled many of the women and children to escape. The mission- 
aries could have saved themselves, but, attaching a high import- 
ance to the administration of the last sacrament to the dying, 
they sacrificed their lives to the performance of this sacred rite. 

Deep and universal dismay now spread over the whole Huron 
tribe. Their land, lately so peaceable, Avas become a land of hor- 
ror and blood, and a sepulchre for the dead. At length the Iro- 
quois began to make overtures of peace, to which it was found the 
missionaries had powerfully contributed. At first these excellent 
men had been regarded with extreme antipathy, but many of 
them, after suffering protracted torture and partial mutilation, had 
been spared and adopted into the Indian families. Their meek 
deportment, their solemn ceremonies, and the fervor with which 
they raised to God " hands without fingers," made a strong 
impression on the savage breast. Hence deputies appeared asking 
for peace. In their figurative language they said that " they 
came to wipe away the blood which reddened the mountains, the 
lakes and the rivers," and " to bring back the sun, which had 
hidden its face during the late dreadful seasons of warfare." 
They also solicited "Black Robes," as they called the mission- 
aries, to teach them the Christian doctrine, and to keep them in 
the practice of peace and virtue. 

In 1()34 Thomas Parsons was knighted by Charles I. 

Josepli aud Benjamin, '^brothers, were born in Great Torrington, Eng- 
hvnd, and accompanied '_their father and others to New England about 
1630. 

Samuel Parsons, born at Saulsbury, Mass., 1707; graduated H. C, 1730; 
ordained at Hye, N. H., November 3, 1736; married Mary Jones, only 
daughter of Samuel Jones, Esq., of Boston, October 9, 1739; died Janu- 
ary 4, 1789, at the age of eighty-two, in the lifty-third year of his ministry. 
The grandfather of Mary Jones was Captain John Adams, of Boston, 
grandson of Henry^of Braintree, who was among the first settlers of 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 45 

The Viscount d'Argenson, the next Governor, considered it 
necessary to accept these terms. The most amicable professions, 
however, hardly procured a respite from hostility, for whilst one 
party treated another attacked. In the following summer Abb6 
Montigny, titular bishop of Petre, landed at Quebec with a brief 
from the Pope, constituting him apostolic vicar. Curacies were at 
the same time established in Canada. 

The Viscount d'Argenson, having requested his recall on 
account of ill health, was relieved by the Baron d'Avangour, an 
officer of great integrity and resolution. His decisive measures 
seemed to have saved Canada. He represented the defenseless 
■state of the country, and its natural beauty and importance, to the 
King in warm and forcible language, and excited a deep interest 
for these distant possessions in the mind of his Majesty, who had 
been hitherto ignorant of their value. 

It was at length announced that a grand deputation was coming 
from all the cantons with the intention of " uniting the whole 
earth," and of " burying the hatchet so deep that it might never 
again be dug up," and they brought with them a hundred belts of 
wampum, each of which signified some condition of the proposed 
peace. Unfortunately a party of Algonquins formed an ambus- 
cade and killed the greater part of them. Owing to this deplor- 
able event all prospects of peace were blasted, and war raged with 
greater fury than ever. 

The Iroquois, having seen the powerful effect of firearms in 
their wars with the French, had procured them from the Dutch 
at Manhattan (now New York), and thus acquired an additional 

Massachusetts, and from whom a numerous race of the name are 
descended, including two Presidents of tlie United States. Tlie Par- 
sonses have become very numerous, and are found tlirougliout New 
England, and many of the descendants are scattered in all parts of the 
United States, and especially in the Middle and Western States. 

Gov. Andrew Parsons came to Michigan in 1835, at the age of seven- 
teen years, and spent the first summer at lower Ann Arbor, where he for 
a few months taught school, which he was compelled to abandon from 
ill health. 

In the fall of that year he explored the Grand River valley in a frail 



46 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

superiority over the Avild tribes of the west. They attacked the 
Ottawas, who did not even make an attempt at resistance, but 
sought refuge in the islands of Lake Huron. They commenced a 
desp(>rate war with the Eriez, a name in their Language signifying 
cats, and after a hard struggle completely succeeded. It is 
remarkable that this powerful nation has left no memorial of its 
existence exce})t the great lake which bears its name. 

In 1663 the colony was visited by a most remarkable succession 
of earthquakes, which commenced on the 6th of February and 
continued for half a year with little intermission. They returned 
two or three times a day, visiting both land and water, and 
spreading universal alarm, yet without inflicting any permanent 
injury or causing the loss of a single life. 

This remarkable event Avas preceded by a great rushing noise, 
heard throughout the whole extent of the country, which caused 
the people to fly out of their houses as if they had been on fire, 
Instead of fire they were surprised to see the walls reeling back- 
ward and forward, and the stones moving as if detached from each 
other ; the bells sounded, the roofs of the buildings bent down, the 
timbers cracked and the earth trembled violently. Animals were 
to be seen flying about in every direction, children were crying 
and screaming in the streets, and men and women, horror-stricken 
and ignorant whither to fly for refuge, stood still, unable to move. 
Some threw themselves on their knees in the snow, calling on the 
saints for aid, while others passed this dreadful night in prayer. 

The movement of the ground resembled the waves of the ocean, 
and the forest appeared as if there was a battle raging between 

canoe, the whole length of the river from Jackson to Lake Michigan, and 
spent the following winter as clerk in a store at Prairie Creek, in Ionia 
county, and in the spring went to Marshall, where he resided with his 
brother, Hon. Luke H. Parsons, also now deceased, until fall, when he 
went to Shiawassee county, then, with Clinton county, an almost unbro- 
ken wilderness, and constituting one organized township. In 1837 this 
territory was organized into a county, and at the age of only nineteen 
years he (Andrew) was elected County Clerk. In 1840 he was elected 
Register of Deeds, re-elected in 1843, and also in 1844. In 1846 he was 
elected to the State Senate, was appointed Prosecuting Attorney in 1848, 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 47 

the trees, so that the Indians declared in their figurative language, 
" that all the trees were drunk." The ice, which was upward of 
six feet thick, was rent and thrown up in large pieces, and from 
the openings came thick clouds of smoke or fountains of dirt and 
sand. The springs were impregnated with sulphur, many rivers 
were totally lost, some became yellow, others red, and the St. Law- 
rence api^eared entirely white down as far as the Tadoussae. 

The extent of this earthquake was so great that one hundred 
and eighty thousand square miles were convulsed on the same day. 
There is nothing, however, in the whole visitation so worthy of 
remark as the care and kindness which God showed to the people 
in preserving them, so that not one was lost or had a hair of his 
head injured. 

Louis XIV resolved at this time to raise Canada to her due 
importance, and no longer to overlook one of the finest countries 
in the world, or expose the French j^ower to contempt by allowing 
it to be trampled on by a handful of savages. For this purpose 
he sent out four hundred troops, accompanied by M. de Mesy as 
Governor, to examine into and regulate the different branches of 
administration. 

Hitherto the Governor had exercised in person, and without 
control, all the functions of government; but Louis resolved 
immediately to erect Canada into a royal government with a 
Council and lutendant, to whom should be intrusted the weighty 
affairs of justice, police, finance and marine. In this determina- 
tion he was warmly seconded by his chief minister, the great Col- 
bert, who was animated by the example of Great Britain to 

elected Regent of the University in 1851, and Lieutenant-Governor and 
became acting Governor in 1853, elected again to tlie Legislature in 1854, 
and, overcome by debilitated health, hard labor and the responsibilities 
of his office and cares of his business, retired upon his farm, where he 
died soon after. 

He was a fluent and persuasive speaker, and well calculated to make 
friends of his acquaintances. He was always true to his trusts, and the 
whole world could not persuade nor drive him to do what he conceived 
to be wrong. When Governor a most powerful railroad influence was 
brought to bear upon him to induce him to call an extra session of the 



48 GENERAL HI8TOKY OF THE STATES. 

improve tlic navigation aud conHUoree of his country by colonial 
establishments. 

The comi)any of the "One Hundred Partners" hitherto exer- 
cised the chief power in Canada. They were very attentive to 
their own interests in rigidly guarding their monopoly of the fur 
trade, but had been all along utterly regardless of the general 
welfare of the colony. They were now, however, very unwillingly 
obliged to relinquish their privileges into the hands of the crown. 

M. de Mesy was succeeded by the Marquis de Tracy, who 
arrived in Canada in 1665. He brought with him the whole 
regiment of De Carignan Salieres, consisting of more than one 
thousand men, the officers of which soon became the chief 
seigneurs of the colony. The regiment had been employed for 
some time in Hungary, and had acquired a high reputation. This, 
with a considerable number of settlers, including agriculturists 
and artisans, with horses and cattle, formed an accession to the 
colony which far exceeded its former numbers. 

The enlightened policy of Colbert, in thus raising Canada into 
notice and consideration, was followed by the success it deserved. 
To well regulated civil government was added increased military 
protection against the Iroquois. Security being thus obtained, the 
migration of French settlers increased rapidly, and, being pro- 
moted in evei-y possible way by the government. New France rose 
rapidly into consideration and importance. Owing to the pres- 
ence of so many soldiers, a martial spirit was im])arted to the 
population, and they began to i)repare to defend properly the 
country of their adoption. 

Legislature. Meetings were held in all jmrts of the State for that pur- 
pose. In some sections the resokUions were of a laudatory nature, 
intended to make hun do their bidding by resort to friendly and tiattoring 
words; in other i)laces the resolutions were of a demanding nature, while 
in others they were threatening beyond measure. Fearing that all these 
influences might fail to induce him to call the extra session, a large smn 
of money was sent him, and liberal olTers tendered if he would gratify the 
railroad interest of the State and call the extra session. But he returned 
the money, and refused to receive any favors whatever from any partj' 
who would attemiit to corrupt him by laudations, hberal offers, or by 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 49 

The new Viceroy lost no time in preparing to check the inso- 
lence of the Iroquois, and to establish a supremacy over them he 
erected three forts on the river Richelieu, the first at Sorel, the 
second at Chambly, and the third further up the river. Over- 
awed by these movements, and by the report of a large force 
marching against them, three of the cantons sent deputies with 
ample professions of friendship, proposing an exchange of all the 
prisoners taken on both sides since the last treaty, to which the 
Viceroy agreed. 

The Marquis de Tracy continued in authority only a year and 
a half, and on his return to France carried with him the affection 
of the people. He maintained a state which had never been seen 
before in Canada. Besides the regiment of Carignan, he was 
allowed to maintain a body-guard, wearing the same uniform as 
the Garde Royale of France. He always appeared on state occa- 
sions with these guards, twenty-four in number, who preceded 
him, while four pages immediately accompanied him, followed by 
five valets. It was thought at that time that this style gave 
favorable impressions of royal authority. 

Before this officer returned home he jilaced the country in a 
state of defense, and established the Company of the West Indies, 
as this new company was called from having been united to the 
other French possessions in America, which we have not yet men- 
tioned. This very able Governor left M. de Courcelles to act as 
Governor-General, with several officers of great ability under his 
command. 

As already stated, M. de Courcelles succeeded M. de Tracy in 
the government of New France. 

threats; and in a short letter to the people, after giving overwhelming 
reasons, that no sensible man could dispute, showing that the circum- 
stances were not ^'■extraordinary,'''' he refused to call the extra session. 
This brought down the wrath of various parties upon his head, but they 
were forced soon to acknowledge the wisdom and the justice of his 
course. 

One of his greatest enemies said, after long acquaintance: "Though 
not always coinciding with his views, I never doubted his honesty of 
purpose. He at all times sought to perform his duties in strict accord- 
ance with the dictates of his conscience and the behests of his oath." 
4 



50 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

During bis administration little doubt was entertained as to the 
permanency of the colony. The inhaliitants began to extend 
their settlements, and to cultivate their lands. The officers and 
soldiers had liberal grants made to them, and a free trade was 
granted to the country generally. 

As the number of men greatly exceeded that of the women, 
several hundreds were sent from France to Canada. As soon as 
they arrived, an advertisement was published to let the people 
know "that a supply had been sent over, and that such as had 
the means of supporting a wife should have their choice." It is 
said the collection consisted of tall, short, fair, brown, fat and lean. 
So great was the demand that in about a fortnight the whole 
cargo was disposed of. 

In 1670 the church of Quebec was constituted a bishopric; 
some important measures were also adopted for the better govern- 
ing of the country, and for maintaining peace with the savages. 
The trade and agriculture of the country prospered; and the 
clerical orders became more enthusiastic than ever in their efforts 
to make proselytes of the Indians. 

A fatal calamity, however, which had been hitherto unknown 
in the New World, made its appearance among the tribes north of 
the St. Lawrence, namely, the small-pox. This scourge, more 
terrible to the savages than all the fire-arms in Eurojoe, carried off 
more than half their number, and spread a universal panic over 
the land. 

Courcelles had requested his recall, and in 1672, on his return 
from a journey to Cataraqui, where he had fixed upon a spot for 

His amiable widow is a sister of J. S. and Dr. D. O. Farrand, of this 
city, aud we understand slie is now a member of the Doctor's family. 

The following eulogium from a political opponent is just in its concep- 
tion and creditable to its author: " Governor Parsons was a politician of 
the Democratic school, a man of pure moral character, fixed and exem- 
plary habits, and entirely blameless in every public and private relation 
of life. As a politician he was candid, frank and free from bitterness; 
as an executive officer, firm, constant and reliable." 

The highest conunendation we can pay the deceased is to give his just 
meed — that of being an honest man. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 51 

building a fort near the present site of Kingston, he found his 
place supplied. His successor was Louis Count de Froutenac, 
who was destined to act an important part in Canada. 

Frontenac was able, active, enterprising and ambitious; but 
proud, overbearing and subject to capricious jealousies. Entering, 
however, cordially into his predecessor's views in regard to the 
fort at Cataraqui, he caused it to be built immediately, and 
actively promoted vast projects for ex2:)loring the interior regions 
of this continent. 

The brilliant talents of M. de Frontenac were sometimes 
obscured by prejudices, but his plans for the aggrandizement of 
Canada were splendid and just. He possessed, however, a spirit 
which would not brook contradiction. For having neglected some 
orders given by him, he imprisoned the Intendant-General, M. de 
Chesnau; the Procurator-General he exiled; the Governor of 
Montreal he put under arrest; and the Abbe de Salignac, Fenelon, 
then superintending the seminary of the St. Sulpicians, at Mon- 
treal, he imprisoned under j)retence of having preached against 
him. His principal op2:)oneut was the Bishop, who, very properly, 
disajiproved of the sale of spirits to the Indians, which was found 
to produce the most pernicious effects. The Count, however, 
considered it as at once extremely profitable, and as a means of 
attaching them to the French interest. 

In 1682 Frontenac was recalled, and M. de la Barre appointed 
his successor. Soon after his arrival, the Iroquois ass^imed a tone 
of defiance, and made formidable preparations for war. These 
caused great apprehensions of a general war among the Indians, 
and the state of Canada became alarming in the highest degree, 
as the whole population consisted only of nine thousand persons. 

The military strength of Canada had been reduced greatly in 
consequence of many of the troops having become proprietors and 
cultivators of land. M. de la Barre, however, determined upon 
war, and, having obtained a reinforcement of two hundred men, 
advanced up the St. Lawrence. He was met at Montreal by a 
deputation from the cantons, who made strong professions of 
friendship, but he considered them as unworthy of credit. He 
direct^ ^Jl bis force .against the Senecas, because it was through 



52 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

their country that the English had penetrated to the fur trade on 
the lakes. He found, however, that the tribes had determined to 
make common cause, and had received ample assurance of aid 
from New York, which had been taken possession of by the Eng- 
lish. Through their various settlements, the English held a kind 
of dominion over the Iroquois country, and they endeavored, with 
success, to alienate them from the French, chiefly by dealing with 
the tribes on more advantageous terms. 

The Iroquois soon found it to their interest not only to carry all 
their furs to the English market, but to buy up those of the other 
tribes in alliance with France. Heavy complaints were constantly 
made by the French, but the Indians treated them with great 
indifference. They shrewdly discovered, in the eager competition 
between these two European nations, the means of rendering their 
own position more secure and imposing. 

After meeting the deputies at Montreal, M. de la Barre pro- 
ceeded to the northern shore of Lake Ontario, where he had 
another interview with the Indians. He assumed a lofty tone, 
complained of their inroads into the country of the tribes in 
alliance Avith France, and of their having conducted the English 
to the lakes, and enabled them to supplant the commerce of his 
countrymen. He concluded by stating that, unless reparation 
was made for these injuries, with a promise to abstain from them 
in future, war and devastation of their country must be the imme- 
diate consequence. The deputies very coolly replied "that he 
appeared to speak like one in a dream, and that if he would open 
his eyes, he would see himself wholly destitute of the means of 
executing these formidable threats." With regard to the English 
they said, "that they had allowed them to pass through their 
country on the same principle on which they had given permission 
to his people to pass." They professed themselves anxious "that 
the hatchet should still remain buried, unless the country granted 
to them should be attacked." The Onondaga deputies guaranteed 
reparation for any actual plunder inflicted on French traders, but 
added that no .more could be conceded, and that the army must 
be immediately withdrawn. Humiliating as these terms were 
after such lofty threats and preparations, De la Barre had no 
choice but to comply, and return to Quebec. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 53 

Here he found that a fresh reinforcement had been landed. 
The letters he received from court intimated the expectation that 
he was carrying on a triumphant war with the Five Nations, and 
conveyed from the King an absurd and cruel request that he would 
send a number of Iroquois to man the galleys. 

When the real issue of the campaign was reported at court, 
great dissatisfaction was felt. The Governor was immediately pro- 
nounced unfit for his situation, and was superseded by the Mar- 
quis de Denouville. 

This active and brave officer, immediately on his arrival, pro- 
ceeded to Cataraqui, now Kingston, with about two thousand 
troops. After a very short time he declared his conviction that 
the Iroquois could never be conciliated, and that it Avas necessary 
either to extirpate them or reduce them to a state of entire 
dependence. He proposed to erect a strong fort at Niagara, to 
prevent them from introducing the English fur trade into the 
Upper Lakes. 

An instance of treachery stains the character of Denouville. 
Having, under various pretences, assembled a number of chiefs at 
Fort Frontenae (Kingston), he iniquitously put them in irons, and 
sent them off to France, to fulfill the king's absurd wishes. He 
then proceeded towards the Seneca country, where he met with but 
little opposition, and marched for ten days, burning and destroy- 
ing all grain and provisions not required by his troops. Although 
the Governor of New York remonstrated with him, urging that 
the Iroquois were the subjects of England, yet he persevered, and 
carried into execution his plan of erecting and garrisoning a fort 
at Niagara. He then found it necessary to return to the Canadian 
side of Lake Ontario. 

Scarcely had he reached home before the Iroquois showed that 
they were masters of the country. They attacked Fort Niagara, 
and razed it to the ground. They covered the lake with their 
canoes, attacked Fort Frontenae, burned all the corn-stacks in the 
neighborhood, and captured a French bark laken with provisions 
and stores. The Indian allies of the French attacked the Iroquois 
of Sorel, and committed many depredations on the English settle- 
ments, plundering the property and scalping the inhabitants. 



54 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

At length botli parties desired peace, and a treaty was set on 
foot for this pur})ose. Deputies from the Iroquois proceeded to 
Montreal, leaving at two days' distance behind them twelve hun- 
dred of their countrymen, fit for immediate action. Proud of 
their commanding situation, they demanded the restoration of the 
chiefs, unjustly seized, and of all other captives. They allowed 
the Governor only four days to consider the offer, threatening, if 
not accepted, immediately to set fire to the buildings and corn 
fields, and to murder the inhabitants. The deepest consternation 
prevailed at Montreal, and Denonville found himself under the 
necessity of accepting these humiliating conditions, and of request- 
ing back from France the chiefs he so basely sent thither. This 
deej) and deserved mortification was a just recompense for his 
treachery to the Indians. 

The state of afiairs in Canada became desperate. The peace 
with the Iroquois was soon ended in another war. The Fort of 
Niagara had been destroyed. Fort Frontenac was blown up and 
abandoned by the French, and two ships that were built for the 
purpose of navigating Lake Ontario, were burned to prevent them 
from falling into the hands of tlie Iroquois. War, famine and dis- 
ease seemed as if combined for the utter destruction of the colony. 

In this extremity it was judged necessary to place at the head 
of affiiirs an officer possessing energy of character and address in 
dealing with the natives. These qualities were found united in 
the Count de Frontenac, who, during his former administration, 
had nuide himself both beloved and feared by the Indians. 

The Count, in 1689, brought out with him the captive chiefs 
whom Denonville had so unjustly seized. So fascinating were his 
manners that he completely gained their favor, Oureonhare, the 
principal one, remaining ever most strongly attached to him. All 
the chiefs, indeed, had so great a regard for him that he enter- 
tained hopes of conciliating the Iroquois without much difficulty. 
With this view he sent a de})uty of that nation, with four of his 
captive countrymen, to announce his return and his wish to 
resume amicable relations. Oureonhare transmitted a message, 
requesting them to send an embassy to their " Ancient Father," 
from whom they would ex])erienee much tenderness and esteem. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 55 

The Iroquois council sent back the same deputies with six belts, 
intimating their resolution, which was expressed in lofty and bitter 
terms. Choosing to consider " Oninthio " one and the same, 
though they knew that Frontenac was not the offending person, 
they complained " that his rods of correction had been too sharp 
and cutting ; that the roots of the tree of peace, which he had 
planted at Fort Frontenac, had been withered by blood, and the 
ground had been polluted." They demanded atonement for these 
injuries, and that Oureonhare and his captive companions should 
be sent back previous to the liberation of the French prisoners. 
" Oninthio would then be free," they said, " to plant again the 
tree of liberty, but not in the same place." 

Two circumstances emboldened the Iroquois to take so high a 
tone at this period. The first was that, in consequence of the 
revolution in England, the cause of James II was warmly 
embraced by the French, and the two kingdoms were at open war. 
On this account the Indians could depend upon the cordial coop- 
eration of the English. The second was that they were engaged 
in -a treaty with the Ottawas for a better market for their furs. 

Frontenac, finding his attempts at negotiation fruitless, resolved 
to act with such vigor as to humble the Iroquois. He therefore 
collected his allies, and divided them amongst his regular troops, 
and several English settlements were surprised and pillaged. 
Schenectady, the frontier town of New York, was attacked by a 
party of one hundred French and a number of Indians. The 
fort and every house were pillaged and burned, and all the hori-ors 
of Indian warfai-e let loose upon the iidiabitants. The English 
accounts say that sixty-three men, women and children were mas- 
sacred in cold blood. 

His next care was to send detachments to convey to Montreal 
the furs which had been stored at Michilimackinac. This they 
effected, and a large party, who attempted to attack them, was 
completely defeated. Notwithstanding these successes, the Iro- 
quois maintained the same hostility and haughtiness. The old 
allies of the French, seeing them resume their former energy, 
determined to prefer them to the English. The Ottawas owned 
that they had made some progress in a negotiation with the 



56 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

English, but that, as soon as they had heard of the return of 
their " Ancient Father," they had broken it off. The Hurons 
denied " having entered into any treaty which could detach them 
from their beloved Oninthio." 

The attention of Frontenac was called in the autumn of this 
year from the Indians to the English, who had determined to 
strike a blow which, they hoped, would deprive the French of all 
their possessions in America. This was a plan of attack on Can- 
ada, which was carried out by the English colonists at an expense 
of £15,000. It Avas twofold : first, by land and inland naviga- 
tion on the southern frontier, and, second, by a fleet sent from 
Boston to attack Quebec. 

The squadron, under the command of Sir William Phipps, 
appeared as far up the river as Tadoussac before the alarm reached 
Quebec. Frontenac immediately hastened to strengthen the 
defenses of the place, which consisted of rude embankments of 
timber and earth, and to put it into as good condition as it was 
possible for him to do in so short a time. 

On the 16th of October the squadron, consisting of thirty-four 
vessels of different descriptions, advanced as far as Beauport. 
Sir William Phipps immediately sent a flag of truce on shore to 
summon the town to surrender. This was gallantly rejected by 
Frontenac. This officer, who was a man of great pride, lived in the 
castle of St. Louis, amidst all the splendor with which he could 
possibly surround himself Being resolved to astonish the Eng- 
lish officer who was sent on shore with the flag of truce, he caused 
him to be met by a French major, who placed a bandage 
over his eyes, and conducted him by a very circuitous route to 
the castle. Every delusion was practiced to make him believe 
that he was in the midst of a numerous garrison. On arriving at 
the castle the bandage was removed, and he found himself in the 
presence of the Governor-General, the Intendant, the Bishop, and a 
large staff of French officers in full uniform, who were clustered 
together in the middle of the hall. With the greatest self-posses- 
sion, the young officer presented to Frontenac a summons to sur- 
render, in the name of William and Mary, King and Queen of 
England. Frontenac gave a most spirited answer, refusing to 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 57 

acknowledge any King of England but James II. The English- 
man wished to have his answer in writing. Frontenac peremp- 
torily refused, saying, " I am going to answer your master by the 
cannon's mouth. He shall be taught this is not the manner in 
which a person of my rank ought to be summoned." The ban- 
dage being replaced, the officer was conducted with the same mys- 
teries to his boat, and was no sooner on board the Admiral's vessel 
than the batteries began to play upon the fleet. 

On the 18th fifteen hundred English troops landed near the 
River St. Charles, but not without sustaining great loss from the 
constant fire kept up by the French from amongst the rocks and 
bushes. Four of the largest vessels were anchored opposite the 
town, and commenced a bombardment, but theiire from the bat- 
teries was directed with such effect as to compel them to move up 
the river beyond Cape Diamond. A sharp skirmish took place 
on the 19th, and on the 20th an action was fought, in which the 
French made a gallant stand and compelled the English to retreat 
to Beauport, leaving their cannon and ammunition. Two days 
after they reembarked and returned to Boston. 

Owing to the bad management of Sir William Phipps, this 
expedition was attended with great loss of life, seven or eight of 
his vessels being wrecked in the St. Lawrence. The expedition 
against Montreal did not take place at the appointed time, owing 
to a want of concert between the parties, and Frontenac was thus 
enabled to concentrate all his strength and oppose the plans of 
the English with vigilance and success. 



CHAPTER IV. 



History of New France from the Administration of Frontenac 
TO ITS Overthrow by the English at Querec, in 1759 — The 
Battle of Quebec — The Fall of Wolfe and Montcai,m — 
Canada Ceded to the English. 

During the year 1691 the Iroquois, with the English and 
native allies, advanced along the liiver Sorel or Richelieu to 
attack Montreal. De Caillieres, a very able officer, then held the 
command of that city. He had assembled nearly eight hundred 
Indians in addition to his own countrymen, and the assailants, 
after a very sharp contest, Avere obliged to retreat. They burned 
thirty houses and barns, and carried off' several prisoners, whom 
they put to the most cruel torture. 

At length, however, De Frontenac, by the unremitting vigor of 
his measures, secured the defense of the colony so far that in 1692 
the inhabitants were enabled to cultivate their lauds, and the fur 
trade was renewed and carried on with considerable advantage. 

In the beginning ot 1694, the Iroquois made overtures of peace. 
Two Onondagos arrived at Montreal, and asked the Governor if 
certain deputies, who were on their way, would be received. 
Tliough they were answered in the affirmative, several months 
elapsed before they a})peared. They were well received, and 
brought several belts with them, one of which expressed the most 
friendly disposition, and solicited the restoration of the fort at 
Cataraqui. 

On their return home, Oureonhar6 accompanied them. AVhen 
he came back, he brought Avith him several persons of distinction, 
who had been long held in captivity by the Indians. Though the 
first belts brought by the deputies were friendly, the others were 
obscure, and all attem])ts to obtain an exjjlanation were fruitless. 
All that was conlcmplated merely seemed to be "to suspend the 
hatchet." The Count rejected all the belts except one, declaring 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 59 

that, unless more friendly sentiments were entertained, he could 
not long suspend the threatened blow. 

Unwilling to come to an open rupture with a people who could 
muster three thousand warriors, he endeavored to gain time. In 
the meanwhile, he reestablished the fort at Cataraqui, and 
strengthened the outposts, intending in the summer to commence 
more active measures. 

At length, in June, 1696, all the forces that could be mustered 
at Cataraqui marched into the canton of Onondago. On reaching 
a lake, they i'ound suspended from a tree two bundles of rushes, 
which intimated that fourteen hundred and thirty-four warriors 
were waiting to engage them. They sailed across the lake immedi- 
ately, and formed themselves in regular order of battle, expecting 
to engage their enemies. De Caillieres commanded the left Aving, 
the Chevalier de Vaudreuil the right, and De Frontenac, then 
seventy-six years of age, was carried in the centre in an elbow- 
chair. The Five Nations, however, did not appear, and their 
principal fortress was found reduced to ashes. It soon, indeed, 
became evident that the Indians had determined to let them 
march through their country unmolested. 

The Oneidas sent deputies to Frontenac, but he would accept 
nothing short of unconditional surrender. De Vaudreuil marched 
into their country and laid it waste. It had been determined to 
treat the Cayugas in the same manner, but the Count returned 
rather suddenly to Montreal, for which the French writers severely 
censure him. He might, it is thought, have completely humbled 
the Iroquois at this time. He could not, however, be prevailed 
upon to destroy the canton of the Goyoquins (or Cayugas), of 
which his friend Oureonhare was chief. 

The shameful manner in which the Indian allies of the French 
were treated with regard to their chief source of wealth, the fur 
trade, gave continual cause of complaint and discontent. This 
traffic was carried on by an adventurous but desperate race, called 
" eaureurs des bois." It was a strict monopoly, the merchants 
fitting out the coureurs with canoes and merchandise, and reaping 
profits so ample that furs to the value of 8,000 crowns were pro- 
cured by the French for 1,000 crowns. 



60 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

As soon as the Indians found out the true value of their com- 
modities, they made loud and incessant complaints. In order to 
conciliate them, it was proposed that they should bring their own 
furs and dispose of them at Montreal. The Governor, however, 
and the other members of the administration, objected that this 
would bring the Indian allies from the retirement of their forests 
into the immediate neighborhood of the Five Nations and of the 
British ; and they dreaded that, while the profits of the fur trade 
would be lost, a general confederation of the tribes might be 
effected. 

In the meantime, the Iroquois continued the war with vigor, 
though both they and the English began to wish for peace. 
Negotiations were, however, entered into with them through 
Oureonhare, in whom Fronteuac placed great and deserved confi- 
dence, but his sudden death at Quebec retarded them. Their 
success was, however, secured by the treaty of peace signed at 
Ryswick, September 15, 1697, and the English and French Gov- 
ernors mutually entered into arrangements for maintaining 
harmony among the Indians. The anxious desire manifested by 
both nations to secure the friendship of the Iroquois flattered 
that bold and deceitful people, and gave them an exalted opinion 
of themselves. The object of both the French and English 
should have been to diminish their power, but this rather tended 
to increase their consequence and conceit. 

Soon after the conclusion of peace, Louis Count de Frontenac 
died, in the seventy-eighth year of his age, upwards of twenty of 
which he had spent in Canada. His great personal abilities pre- 
served this colony to France, and always secured to him the 

GOVERNOR J. J. BAGLEY. 

John J. Bagley, tlie present Governor of the State of Michigan, was 
born July 24th, 1832, in Orleans County, New York. His father settled 
in St. Joseph County, in this State, 1840, where Mr. Bagley received a 
common scliool education. In 1840 he removed to Shiawassee County, 
and in 1847 to Detroit. He served his time at the tobacco trade with 
Isaac S. Miller. In 1853 he engaged in business for liimself, and is still 
conducting it. 

Mr. Bagley has held various positions of public trust in the city gov- 




GOVERNOR JOHN J. EAGLET. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 63 

confidence of the King, the respect of his officers and the esteem 
of the Indians. He was buried in the Recollect church at 
Quebec, which formerly stood near the site of the present English 
cathedral. The only memorial of him now to be found in the 
city is in the street called from his family name Buade street. 

Frontenac was succeeded by De Callieres, who had been for 
some time Governor of Montreal. He administered the affairs of 
the colony with more steadiness and prudence, and with equal 
vigor and address, and in 1700 effected a general pacification 
among the Indian tribes. Upon the exchange of prisoners which 
took place at this period, a most surprising and mortifying fact 
transpired. The natives early sought their homes ; the greater 
part of the French captives, however, were found to have con- 
tracted such an attachment to the wild freedom of the woods, that 
neither the commands of the King nor the entreaties of their 
friends could induce them to quit their Indian associates. 

Peace had scarcely been concluded between the savage tribes, 
when it was broken by their civilized neighbors. The succession 
of Philip of Anjou to the throne of Spain gave rise to a long and 
eventful war betAveen France and Spain. It was begun by Louis 
XIV with every prospect of giving law to all Europe. Instead 
of this, the exploits of the great Marlborough and Prince Eugene, 
and the fields of Blenheim and Ramilies, reduced him to the 
lowest condition, and at one time seemed to place his throne 
in peril. The French colonists were thus left to their own 
resources, while England conceived the bold design of uniting 
within her territory the whole of North America. 

The lamented death of De Callieres, its able Governor, placed 
Canada in a critical state, and endangered the French power in 
the colony. 

ernment of Detroit, aud in 1873 was Park Commissioner, Vice-President 
of tlie American National Banl<:, President of the Detroit Safe Company, 
Director of the Wayne County Savings Bank, Novelty Works, Detroit 
Fire and Marine Insurance Company, and Michigan Mutual Life Insur- 
ance Company. 

In the summer of 1873 Mr. Bagley was nominated by the Kepublican 
State Convention for Governor, and was elected by a large majority. 



64 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

The Count de Vaudreuil, who succeeded, proved himself worthy 
of his high office, and for several years managed to prevent the 
colonists from being molested, and to cherish the trade and culti- 
vation of the country. In 1708 he carried warlike operations into 
the British frontier settlements, having previously negotiated for 
the neutrality of the Iroquois, who were flattered by being treated 
as an independent power. Little success, however, attended these 
operations, and he was soon compelled again to resume a defensive 
position. 

The persecutions of the Protestants in France caused at this 
time a religious animosity to be added to the hatred entertained 
towards the French. This unfortunately encouraged a spirit of 
discord amongst the colonists themselves. A people like the New 
Englanders, who had themselves but just escaped from persecu- 
tion, could not look with indifference upon their persecuted French 
Protestant brethren. Some of the persons in power amongst 
them, however, did not sympathize in this sentiment, and estrange- 
ment from each other and opposition to authority increased daily. 

During all the changes which took place in the colonies, it is 
surprising how the Iroquois contrived to preserve their neutrality, 
as they had it in their power to gain infoi'mation on both sides. 
The court that was paid to them by both powers probably fostered 
in them habits of dissimulation. When the English called the Five 
Nations to assist them against the Fi'ench, they showed the great- 
est unwillingness. They alleged that " when they concluded a 
treaty they intended to keep it, but that the Europeans seemed to 
enter into such engagements solely for the purpose of breaking 
them ;" and one old chief, with the rude freedom of his country, 
intimated that " the nations were both drunk." 

In 1709 a person of the name of Vetch laid before the court of 
Queen Anne a plan for the conquest of Canada, and was supplied 
with authority and resources, supposed to be sufficient for its 
accomplishment. The English forces which had been destined 
for the St. Lawrence wei'e, however, required in Portugal, and 
thus the Marquis de Vaudreuil had time to make better jirepara- 
tions for defense. 

The British in the meantime had occupied Lakes George and 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 65 

Champlain, and erected forts. But the Iroquois treacherously 
deceived them, and attempted to poison the water they drank. 
They immediately abandoned the enterprise and returned to New 
York, after burning their canoes and reducing their forts to ashes. 




GOVERNOR H. P. BALDWIN. 

Among the numerous citizens of Micliigan, who, from very small 
beginnings, by lionest perseverance have accumulated wealth and local 
fame, ex-Governor Baldwin stands very prominent. He was born in 
Coventry, R. I., February, 1814, and was left an orphan boy at the ten- 
der age of eleven years, his parents having died previous to 1825. At the 
age of twelve he secured a position in a mercantile house near his native 
town, in which situation he remained eight years. In those days salaries 
were small, consequently, Mr. Baldwin was unable to lay by very much; 
but to say that he had not, during those eight years, accumulated a capi- 
5 



66 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Canada now enjoyed a short interval of repose, though it was 
understood that the English were making active preparations for 
a fresh expedition, and were sparing no pains to secure the cooper- 
ation of the Five Nations. At this time the French were 
engaged in a desperate struggle with an Indian nation called the 
Outagamis or Foxes. These people, who dwelt in the upper terri- 
tory, were at last reduced to the necessity of humbly soliciting 
terms of peace, but the French were persuaded by their savage 
auxiliaries to push matters to the last extremity, and this unfor- 
tunate tribe was nearly exterminated. 

A combined land and sea expedition against Canada took place 
in 1711. This expedition was shamefully managed, and the Brit- 
ish fleet, owing to tempestuous weather and ignorance of the 
coast, met with so many disasters that it was obliged to return to 
Boston. They lost, at the Seven Islands near the mouth of the 
St. Lawrence, in one day, eight vessels and eight hundred and 
eighty-four officers, soldiers and seamen. 

tal that is more precious than gold, would be contradictory with the fol- 
lowing circumstances. At the age of twenty he left this situation, and, 
entirely without capital of his own, began business for himself. Thus 
will be seen Mr. Baldwin had already established himself in the confi- 
dence and esteem of the people of his own native State. 

In 1838 Mr. Baldwin's keen penetration had foreseen the near future of 
lake commerce, as guaranteed by the rapid development of the North- 
west, and he hastened to the scene of pioneer life. Having removed to 
Detroit, he immediately resumed mercantile pursuits. Success followed 
the effort, and has continuously attended all his business operations, 
which have increased to considerable magnitude. He has taken an active 
interest in many of the leading enterprises of Michigan, most of which 
have vigorously advanced the growth, prosperity and honor of the State. 
Prominent among these is the Second National Bank of Detroit. This 
institution commenced business in 1863 with a capital of $500,000, which 
was increased in 1865 to $1,000,000, and has been one of the most suc- 
cessful enterprises of the West, having already accumulated a surplus 
fund of $600,000. Mr. Baldwin was its first president, and has continued 
to hold that responsible position during its whole career to the present 
time. 

In relation to his political life, he has rather declined than sought after 
oflBce or emolument. He was a staunch Whig when that party existed, 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 67 

The restoration of peace between France and England, by the 
treaty of Utrecht, took place in 1713, by which France retained 
Canada, but ceded Acadia and Newfoundland, and made over to 
Great Britain all her claims to the sovereignty of the Five 
Nations. This once more left the colony an interval of rest, 
which lasted ten years, during which her trade and resources were 
greatly increased. The Marquis de Vaudreuil availed himself of 
the peace to strengthen the fortifications of Quebec and Montreal ; 
the training of the military, amounting to 5,000 in a population 
of 25,000, was carefully attended to, and barracks were con- 
structed. An assessment was levied on the inhabitants, for the 
support of the troops and the erection of fortifications. During 
the remainder of M. de Vaudreuil's administration, which was 
terminated by his death in 1726, the province prospered under his 
vigilant, firm and just government. 

The death of the Marquis de Vaudreuil in 1726, was deserv- 
edly lamented by the Canadians. He was succeeded, in 1726, by 

and became as firm a Republican at the organization of that party. He 
was twice nominated by liis party to the mayoralty of Deti'oit, and in 
1860 was elected to tlie State Senate. His career in the Senate was 
marked with considerable ability. He was chosen Chairman of the 
Finance Committee of the Senate, of the Joint Finance Committee of the 
two Houses, and of the Joint Committee for investigating into the condi- 
tion of the State Treasury and the defalcation of John McKinney. It 
will be remembered that when the Legislature met in 1861 the State 
Treasury was without funds, the Treasurer being cliarged as a defaulter, 
and the State finances being in a most embarrassed condition. Senator 
Baldwin made a most thorough examination of the department, and 
embodied in his report to tlie Legislature a complete statement setting 
forth the irregularities by wliich the difficulty had been incurred, and 
suggesting plans whereby the State finances could be advantageously 
regulated and sustained in good condition. The report and measures 
recommended by Mr. Baldwin were adopted, and have been the basis of 
the successful management of the State finances up to the present time. 
In 1864 Senator Baldwin's name was brought forward spontaneously 
by the people for the distinguished office of Governor of Michigan. At 
the State Convention of that year his nomination was defeated by a single 
.vote. Had lie even signified a desire to reach the gubernatorial chair, it 
is generally believed tliat he would have been unanimously chosen by the 



68 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the Marquis de Beauharnois. His ambitious administration 
excited greatly the alarm of the English colonists of New York 
and New England. 

Beauharnois continued in power twenty years, and diligently 
employed himself in promoting the interests of the colony. He 
planned an enterprise to cross America to the South Sea, which 
did not succeed. He erected also the important fort at Crown 
Point, on Lake Champlain, with several other forts at different 
places, for the purpose of keeping the English within the Alle- 
ghany Mountains, and preventing their approach to the lakes, 
the St. Lawrence, the Mississippi, and their tributary streams. 

The war between Great Britain and France led to the reduction 
of Cape Breton in 1745, by a British naval and military force, 
assisted by the provincial troops of the New England colonies. 
The successful battle of Fonteuoy, in Europe, however, roused the 
martial spirit of the Canadians to attenqjt the re-conquest of 
Nova Scotia, in 1746 and 1747, in which they failed, and the 

Convention, but, having not even sanctioned the voice of the people, his 
nomination was carelessly though scarcely defeated. 

In 1866 he was earnestly pressed to allow his name to be placed before 
the Republican Convention for the same honorable office, but, as it had 
been customary to renominate the Governor for a second term, he 
declined absolutely. Notwithstanding this, he received more than sixty 
votes at that time. 

In 1868 he received the nomination of his party for the high office of 
Governor, and was elected by the largest majority which, at that time, 
had ever been given for a Governor of Michigan. In 1870 he was nomi- 
nated by acclamation, aud reelected. In 1873 he was again strongly 
pressed to accept the nomination, but positively refused, and, in a letter 
addressed to the Republican Convention of that year, requested that no 
votes should be cast for him. 

Thus I have given, in a very concise manner, the most prominent fea- 
tures of Governor Baldwin's life. In point of perseverance, purity or 
accomplishment, its estimation is enhanced by comparison. No stain 
mars the pages of his sliort history of success. He came forth from the 
obscurity of a humble orphan boy, and, through his own honest persever- 
ance, unaided by naught save that which integrity, energy and affability 
merits, accumulated much wealth, aud won a public name unblemished 
by coarse associations. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



69 



treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, suspended further hostilities. 
Commissioners were then appointed to settle a boundary line 
between the British and French territories in North America. 
The Canadian government immediately proceeded to survey the 




HON. FREDERICK L. WELLS. 

Frederick L. Wells, the present Senator in the State Legislature for 
the Twenty-second Senatorial District, was born in the town of Stanford, 
Duchess county, New York, on the 24th of March, 1833, and emigrated 
to Michigan in October, 1838, taking up his residence in the city of Port 
Huron, where he now resides. This trip, at that early time of railroads, 
consumed nearly a week, Mr. Wells traveling on the New York Central 
from Albany to Fonda, which at that time comprised the whole length 
of that road. From the latter place to Buffalo the passage was made on 



70 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

projected line of demarcation, with a great display of military 
pomp, calculated to impress on the minds of the Indians the idea 
that France would assert her rights to the limits marked. Leaden 
plates, bearing the arms of France, were sunk at such distances 
upon this line as the Canadian Governor, in his liberality, pleased 
to assign to England, and the whole ceremony was conducted with 
much formality. Such an imprudent step seriously alarmed the 
Indians, and terminated in their active cooperation with the 
English, for the utter expulsion of the French from North 
America. 

About this time a royal edict directed that no country houses 
should be built but on farms of one acre and a half in front and 
forty back. This law had the eiFect of confining the population 
along the banks of the river, and the whole shore, from Quebec 
to Montreal, was soon settled with cultivated farms. A favorable 
change took place, too, in the fur trade, and a more liberal and 
equitable system appears to have been adopted. A large annual 
fair was opened at Montreal, under judicious regulations, and 
became the general centre of the trade. 

The Count de Galissoniere, a nobleman of great acquirements, 
succeeded M. de Beauharnois in 1747. He was superseded by the 
Sieur de la Jonquiere in 1749, who was superseded temporarily 
by the Baron de Longueuil, until the arrival of the Marquis du 
Quesne as Governor-General in 1752. 

a canal boat, and at Buffalo he embarked on the steamboat "James 
Madison" for Port Huron, which boat was then considered first-class. 
Upon his arrival at Port Huron, he found that tlie Indians were more 
numerous than the whites ; and in his younger day he has often seen the 
former participating in the "savage war dance" in the center of the 
city, where now lie Huron avenue and Military street. He soon formed 
an admiration for the beautiful forest scenes surrounding his new home, 
and from early boyhood took a great interest in the welfare of his town. 
By his rigid honesty, indomitable energy, and rare business qualifications, 
he soon rose to the front rank among his townsmen. 

Although Mr. Wells has never sought political honors, still his towns- 
men have seen fit to acknowledge their appreciation of his abilities by 
electing him to a large number of important official positions. In 1855 
he was elected to the office of Village Recorder, and again, in 1857, he 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN, 71 

Du Quesne appears, more openly than any other governor, to 
have carried on the system of encroaching on the British Colonies. 
So far did he proceed that the fort at Pittsburg, bearing his name, 
was erected within the confines of Virginia. 

The British immediately erected another in the immediate 
vicinity, which they quaintly termed Necessity. To this a garrison 
was dispatched, from Virginia, under the command of George 
Washington, whose name afterward became so illustrious, and 
who then held a lieutenant-colonel's commission in the British 
army. Washington, on his march to assume the command of 
Fort Necessity, was met by a party from Fort Du Quesne, under 
M. de Jumonville, who peremptorily forbade the English to pro- 
ceed further. The mandate was answered by a burst of indigna- 
tion and a volley of musketry, which killed Jumonville and sev- 
eral of his men. The French at Fort du Quesne, however,* 
quickly commenced offensive hostilities, invested Necessity, and 
obliged Washington to capitulate. 

A great alarm was now spread through the English settlements, 
and a plan of common defense was brought forward, in a conven- 
tion held at Albany in July, 1754. At this meeting Benjamin 
Franklin proposed a general union of the colonies, to resist the 
French. Though not then acted upon, this document was the 
basis of the federal union subsequently formed for the overthrow 
of the British dominion in the United States. 

was chosen for the same position. In 1859 he was elected City Clerk, 
and was reelected to the same office the two following years. He was 
Chief Engineer of the Fire Department during the year 1862, and in 
1863 was chosen Mayor of the city. He has also held the oflSce of Alder- 
man for three terms of two years each, which makes him a city oflBcer of 
thirteen years' standing. After a spirited contest, in 1870, Mr. Wells 
was elected to represent the Second District of St. Clair county in the 
State Legislature. He filled this position so well that the people of St. 
Clair county elected him to represent them as Senator in the Legislature 
of 1872-3. He was a member of the standing committees of the Senate — 
lumber interests, asylum for deaf, dumb and blind, and State capitol and 
public buildings, being chairman of the first mentioned — where he zeal- 
ously looked after the interests of the State, performing a large amount 
of arduous labor. 



72 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

England was at this time preparing for an open war with 
France, which the ambition of Frederick of Prussia, and the state 
of Europe, soon rendered general. A strong fleet with troops, 
was despatched from France to reinforce Quebec ; an English 
fleet pursued it, but succeeded in capturing only two frigates, with 
the engineers and troops on board, on the banks of Newfound- 
land. 

The Marquis de Quesne having resigned, Avas succeeded by the 
Sieur de Vaudreuil, the last French governor in Canada, in 1755. 
This administration was auspiciously opened by the defeat of 
the brave but rash General Braddock, in one of the defiles of the 
Alleghany Mountains. Braddock, unaccustomed to Indian war- 
fare, neglected every precaution of scouts and outposts, and 
refused to make proper preparations for the meeting of the French 
and their Indian allies. When the British entered a gorge where 
retreat was impossible, they poured upon them, from their ambus- 
cades, a deadly fire, under which numbers of the unfortunate sol- 
diers fell. Braddock himself was killed, and the remainder of 
the army was saved only by the intrepidity of Colonel George 
Washington, who now, for the first time, distinguished himself, 
and won back the laurels he had lost at Fort Necessity. 

These troops having afterward joined the provincial force under 
Generals Johnson, Lyman and Shirly, repulsed an attack made 
by the French under Baron Dieskau. After a battle of four 
hours' duration the French retreated to Crown Point, with a loss 

Mr. Wells has also taken a great interest in Free Masonry, having 
received all the degrees to the " S. P. R. S.," thirty-second degree of the 
A. & A. Scottish rite. He has held many important offices in the lodge 
of which he is a member. He has been Worshipful Master of the Port 
Huron Lodge, No. 58, for five years ; High Priest of Huron Chapter, 
Royal Arch Masons, for two years, and has held for the past year, and 
still holds, the office of Eminent Commander of the Port Huron Com- 
mandery of Knights Templar. 

For tlie past nineteen years, and at present, he is extensively engaged 
in the manufacturing of lumber. He is also a partner in the banking 
house of John Johnston & Co. , Port Huron. 

In all the positions Mr. Wells has held he has performed his duties 
faithfully, and exhibited a large amount of business tact. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



73 



of one thousand men and the capture of their leader, who was 
severely wounded. 

This success restored the drooping spirits of the British army, 
and these battles helped to train the colonists for those contests 




HON. EI!IHU L. CLARK. 

Elihxi L. Clark, President of the Lenawee County Savings Bank, was 
born in Wayne County, New York, on the 18th of July, 1811. Both of 
his grandfathers served in the Revolutionary War, the one on his father's 
side being one of Washington's Rangers, and the one on his mother's side 
being in active service at the battles of Monmouth, Princeton and a num- 
ber of others. 

Mr. Clark remained on the farm where he was born until he was nine- 
teen years of age, when he went to the village of Palmyra, in the same 
county, and served as clerk in a dry goods store for one year. After- 



74 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

which they were to wage with those very men by whose side they 
now fought hand to hand against the French. Little did Wash- 
ington then contemplate the destiny that awaited him. 

France, now fully aware of the importance of Canada, sent out 
a chosen body of troops, under the command of the gallant and 
experienced Marquis de Montcalm. He obtained a series of suc- 
cesses, terminating by the reduction of the important British forts 
at Oswego, and Fort Edward, near Lake George. This victory 
was stained by the barbarous murder of near two thousand Eng- 
lish prisoners, by the Indian allies of the French. This monstrous 
deed completely roused the indignation of the English, and led to 
those mighty preparations which finally destroyed the power of 
France in America. 

As some compensation for these losses, the fortified and garri- 
soned town of Louisburg, in the island of Cape Breton, was taken 
in the most gallant manner by the English army under General 
Amherst and Brigadier-General Wolfe, the future conqueror of 
Canada. In 1758 Fort Frontenac, near Kingston, and Fort Du 
Quesne, near the Ohio river, were captured by the colonists. 

The campaign of 1759 was opened with a plan of combined 
operations by sea and land. Canada was to be invaded at three 
different points by Generals of high talent. The commander-in- 
chief. General Amherst, undertook the reduction of the forts at 
Crown Point and Ticonderoga. He was to cross Lake Champlain, 
and, proceeding along the Richelieu, was to reach the St. Law- 
rence and join the other army before Quebec. The force destined 
to proceed by sea to Quebec was under the command of the heroic 
General Wolfe. General Prideaux, with another army and a 

wards he was the owner of a mercantile establishment in the same town 
for two years. In Septembei", 1834, he married Miss Isabella T. Bean, 
and in June of the following year he emigrated to Michigan, and at once 
engaged in the mercantile business, in which he remained until 1848. In 
the autumn of tliat year he was elected a Representative in the Legisla- 
ture of Michigan from Lenawee County, being the only Whig in the 
Legislature from that county of five Representative districts. From 
that time until 1870 he has been engaged in a private banking and bro- 
kerage business, accumulating considerable wealth. In 1870, upon tlie 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 75 

large body of friendly Indians, under Sir William Johnson, was 
appointed to reduce the fort at Niagara. 

Wolfe's army, amounting to about eight thousand men, was 
conveyed to the vicinity of Quebec by a fleet of vessels of war and 
transports, and landed in two divisions on the island of Orleans, 
on the 27th of June. The Marquis de Montcalm made vigorous 
preparations for defending Quebec. His armed force consisted of 
about thirteen thousand men, of whom six battalions were regulars 
and the remainder well disciplined Canadian militia, with some 
cavalry and Indians. He ranged these forces from the river St. 
Charles to the Falls of Montmorency, with the view of opposing 
the landing of the British. 

Wolfe first attempted the entrenchment of Montmorency, land- 
ing his troops under cover of the fire from the ships of war, but 
was gallantly repulsed by the French. In consequence of this 
repulse he sent dispatches to England, stating that he had doubts 
of being able to reduce Quebec during that campaign. His pros- 
pects, indeed, were not encouraging. The great stronghold kept 
Aip an incessant fire from its almost inaccessible position, bristling 
with guns, defended by a superior force, and inhabited by a hostile 
population. Above the city steep banks rendered landing almost 
impossible ; below the country for eight miles was embarrassed by 
two rivers, many redoubts and watchful Indians. A part of the 
fleet lay above the town, and the remainder in the north channel, 
between the island of Orleans and Montmorency. 

Soon after this repulse, however, Wolfe roused his brave and 
vigorous spirit, called a council of war, and proposed, it is gener- 
ally said at the instigation of his second in command, General 

organization of the Lenawee County Savings Bank, lie was chosen 
President of that corporation, which office lie still holds, performing the 
duties to the entire satisfaction of the stockholders and depositors in the 
bank. 

During the late civil war, Mr. Clark was an active supporter of the 
Union cause, and did much for the Michigan soldiers. One of his sons 
sacrificed his life in defense of the nation. Mr. Clark is well known 
throughout Lenawee and the adjoining counties, and is held in very high 
esteem. 



76 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Townsend, to gain the Height's of Abraham behind and above the 
city, commanding the weakest part of the fortress. The council 
acceded to this daring proposal, and their heroic commander com- 
menced his preparations, in the meanwhile making such active 
demonstrations against Montcalm's position that the French still 
believed it to be his main object. 

On the 11th of September the greater part of the troops landed 
and marched up the south shore opposite Quebec, forded the river 
Etchemin, and embarked on board the men-of-war and transports 
which lay above the town. On the 12th the ships of war sailed 
nine miles up the river to Cap Rouge. This feint deceived Mont- 
calm, and he detached DeBougainville, who with his army of 
reserve proceeded still farther up the river, to prevent the English 
from landing. During the night the English troops dropped 
silently down the river with the current in boats, and at four 
o'clock in the morning began to land. 

It is surprising how the troops contrived to land, as the French 
had posted sentries along the shore to challenge boats and give the 
alarm. The first boat was questioned, when Captain Donald 
McDonald, one of Frazer's Highlanders, w\io was perfectly well 
acquainted with the French language and customs, answered to 
"Qui i;/('e .^ " which is their challenge, the word, " Xa France." 
When the sentinel demanded, " A quel regiment f " the captain 
replied, " De la Heine," which he knew by accident to be one of 
those commanded by DeBougainville. The soldier took it for 
granted that it was an expected convoy, and saying "Passe" the 
boats proceeded without further question. One of the sentries, 
more wary than the rest, running down to the water's edge, called 
out, " Pourquoi, est-ce que vous ne parlez pas plus hautf" to which 
the captain answered, in a soft tone of voice, "Tais-toi, nous serons 
entendus. Thus cautioned, the sentry retired, and the boats pro- 
ceeded without further altercation, and landed at the spot now 
celebrated as " Wolfe's Cove." 

General Wolfe was one of the first on shore, and, on seeing the 
difficulty of ascending the precipice, observed familiarly to Captain 
McDonald, " I do not believe there is any possibility of getting up, 
but you must do your endeavor." Indeed, the precipice here was 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 



77 



80 steep that there seemed no possibility of scaling it, but the 
Highlanders, grasping the bushes that grew on its face, ascended 
the woody precipice with courage and dexterity. They dislodged 
a small body of troops that defended a narrow pathway up the 




,-<^"*«53j^ssaso»5>^ 



HENRY FISH. 

Henky Fish, cue of the present leading citizens of Port Huron, Michi- 
gan, was born five miles above Montreal, Canada, in 1824. His parents 
were of New England birth, but removed to Canada at an early day. In 
the year 1830 the family came to Michigan, and settled in Macomb 
county. In the year 1848 Henry Fish moved to Port Huron, and engaged 
in merchandising and lumbering. For the past eighteen years he, in 
connection with his brother, has been engaged in the lumbering business 
exclusively, the firm of A. & H. Fish being favorably and extensively 



78 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

bank ; and, a few more mounting, the General drew up the rest in 
order as they arrived. With great exertion they reached the sum- 
mit, and in a short time Wolfe had his whole army drawn up in 
regular order on the plains above. 

Montcalm, struck with this unexpected movement, concluded 
that unless Wolfe could be driven from this position Quebec was 
lost. Hoping, probably, that only a detachment had as yet 
reached it, he lost his usual prudence and forbearance, and finding 
that his opponent had gained so much by hazarding all, he, with 
an infatuation for which it is difficult to account, resolved to meet 
the British army. 

He crossed the St. Charles on the 13th, sallying forth from a 
strong fortress without field artillery, without even waiting the 
return of Bougainville, who Avith two thousand men formed a 
corps of observation. Before he could concentrate his forces, he 
advanced with haste and precipitation, and commenced a most 
gallant attack when within about two hundred and fifty yards of 
the English line. The English moved forward regularly, firing 
steadily until within thirty or forty yards of the French, when 
they gave a general volley, which did great execution. The 
English had only a light cannon, which the sailors had dragged 
up the heights with ropes. The sabre, therefore, and the bayonet 
decided the day. The agile Scotch Highlanders, with their stout 
claymores, served the purpose of cavalry, and the steady fire of 

known. Mr. Fish is one of the most active and influential lay members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Michigan, being elected President 
of the State Convention of that church, held at Albion, in 1871. The 
Detroit Annual Conference, in company with Mr. John Owen, of Detroit, 
elected him as lay delegate to the General Conference of May, 1873. 

He was the candidate of the Prohibition party for Governor of Michi- 
gan in 1870 and again in 1872. The National Prohibition party, yet in 
its infancy, presented its first national ticket to the people in 1872. It 
had its inception in a meeting of a few friends of temperance (of whom 
Mr. Fish was a leading one), held in Detroit, on the 8th of January, 1867. 
This meeting advised the formation of an independent political party, 
because, as they stated, legal prohibition of the liquor traffic is such a 
radical reform as cannot be accomplished through the agency of a politi- 
cal party composed of temperance men and the sellers and drinkers of 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 79 

the English fusileers compensated in some degree for the want of 
artillery. 

The heroism of Montcalm was as conspicuous as that of his 
illustrious opponent ; both headed their men ; both rushed with 
eagerness where the battle raged most fiercely. Often by their 
personal prowess and example did they change the fortune of the 
moment. Both were repeatedly wounded, but still fought on with 
enthusiasm. And at last both these gallant commanders fell mor- 
tally wounded, whilst advancing to the last deadly charge at the 
head of their respective columns. 

Wolfe was first wounded in the wrist. He immediately wrapped 
a handkerchief round his arm, and, putting himself at the head of 
his grenadiers, led them on to the charge. He was then struck 
with a second ball, but still pressed on, when, just as the enemy 
were about to give way, he received a third ball in the breast and 
groin, and sank. When they raised him from the ground he tried, 
with a faint hand, to clear the death-mist from his eyes. He 
could not see how the battle went, and was sinking to the earth, 
when the cry, " They run ! they run ! " arrested his fleeting spirit. 
"Who run ?" asked the dying hero. "The French," replied his 
supporter ; " they give way everywhere." " What ! " said he, " do 
they run already? Now God be praised — I die happy; " and, so 
saying, the youthful victor breathed his last. Such was the death 

intoxicating liquors. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are so 
composed, and are, therefore, organically disqualified to indorse prohibi- 
tion as a party measure, and without such indorsement no political party 
can be depended upon, when in power, to enact and enforce laws prohib- 
iting the liquor traffic. Hence, they declared that both reason and expe- 
rience proved the necessity of independent political action on the part of 
the friends of prohibition. As the result of this meeting, a State Conven- 
tion was held at .Jackson, January 27th, 1869, and such a party formed. 
The following year they nominated their first State ticket, headed by Mr. 
Fish for Governor, and at the election in November he received a vote 
exceedingly flattering to himself and his party. In 1872 he was again the 
candidate of the same party for the same office, and with similar results. 
Mr. Fish is a careful and competent business man, of far more than 
average culture, and a very aflfable and agreeable gentleman. 



80 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

of Wolfe at the early age of thirty-five, when but few men begin 
even to appear on the theater of great events. 

There is a small monument on the place of his death, with the 
date and this inscription : " Here Wolfe died victorious." He 
was too precious to be left even on the field of his glory ; England, 
jealous of his ashes, had them laid with his father's in Greenwich, 
the town in which he was born. The news of these events reached 
Britain but forty-eight hours later than the first discouraging dis- 
patch, and spread universal joy for the great victory, and sorrow 
for its price. Throughout broad England were illuminations and 
songs of triumph ; one country village was, however, silent and 
still — there Wolfe's widowed mother mourned her only son. 

The chivalrous Montcalm also died nobly. When his wounds 
were pronounced mortal, he expressed his thankfulness that he 
should die before the surrender of Quebec. On being visited by 
the commander of the garrison, M. de Ramzay, and by the com- 
mandant, De Rousellon, he entreated him to endeavor to secure 
the retreat of the army beyond Cap Rouge. 

Before he died he paid the victorious army this magnanimous 
compliment : " Since it has been my misfortune to be discomfited 
and mortally wounded, it is a great satisfaction to me to be van- 
quished by so brave and generous an enemy." Almost his last act 
was to write a letter recommending the French j^risoners to the 
generosity of their victors. He died at five o'clock on the morn- 
ing of the 14th of September, and was buried in an excavation 
made by the bursting of a shell, near the Ursuline convent. 

The battle had scarcely closed before Bougainville appeared in 
sight ; but the fate of Canada was decided, the critical moment 
was gone. He retired to Pointe aux Trembles en has, where he 
encamped, and thence he retreated to Three Rivers and Montreal. 
Had all the French forces been concentrated under Montcalm, it 
is doubtful if the heroism of the British troops could have secured 
the victory, so great was the valor displayed. On the 17th a flag 
of truce came out of the city, and on the 18th a capitulation was 
effected on terms honorable to the French, who were not made 
prisoners, but conveyed home to their own country. General 
Murray then assumed the command. 



CHAPTER V. 



Progress of the French toward Michigan — The Struggles and 
Adventures op the Missionaries — Life and Death of the 
Great and Good Marquette — Pioneer Life. 

Having followed the history of New France to the end of 
the French rule in Canada, we will now return and trace the west- 
ward movements of civilization to the borders of Michigan. 

The French settlers who had established themselves upon the 
banks of the St. Lawrence were never wanting in zeal and enter- 
prise in extending their explorations westward. It was early the 
avowed object of the government to carry the cross of the Catho- 
lic Church to the remotest bounds of the western territory, and 
thus to secure the advantages of its great resources. The princi- 
pal directors of the ecclesiastical establishments that were collected 
at Quebec found it their policy to become informed of the con- 
dition of the domain of the great lakes, and as early as 1634 the 
Jesuits Breboeuf and Daniel joined a party of Hurons, who were 
returning from that walled city, and, passing tlirough to the 
Ottawa River, raised the first hut of the Society of Jesus upon the 
shore of Lake Iroquois, a bay of Lake Huron, where they daily 
rang a bell to call the savages to prayer, and performed all those 
kind offices which were calculated to secure the confidence and 
aflTection of the tribes on the lake shore. In order to confirm the 
missions a college was founded in Quebec during the following 
year, and a hospital was established at the same place for the 
unfortunate of every class. A plan for the establishment of mis- 
sions, not only among the Algonquins of the north, but also south 
of Lake Michigan and in Michigan, was formed within six years 
after the discovery of Canada. 

Cartier was the pioneer, but Champlain was the founder of the 
French power upon this continent. For twenty years succeeding 
6 



82 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

the commencement of the seventeenth century he was zealously 
employed in planting and rearing upon the banks of the St. Law- 
rence that infant colony which was destined to extend its branches 
into Michigan, and finally to contest with its great rival the sover- 
eignty of North America. 

We shall not here attempt to trace the progress of these remote 
settlements, nor to mark the alternations of prosperity and adver- 
sity. They are in this work peculiarly interesting to us only as 
they exhibit the gradual and successive steps by which a knowl- 
edge of the lake country was acquired, and its first settlements 
founded. As the tide of French power flows toward Michigan, 
we become more anxious to trace its principles and progress, and 
to inquire into the motives and means of the hardy adventurers 
who were every year ascending still further and further the 
boundless waters before them. It was early discovered that a 
profitable trafiic in furs could be carried on with the Indians, and 
the excitement of gain prompted those engaged in it to explore 
every avenue by which the camp and hunting grounds of the 
Indians could be approached. A better and nobler feeling, too, 
brought to this work a body of learned and pious men, who left 
behind them their own world, with all its pleasures and attach- 
ments, and sought in the depths of remote and unknown regions 
objects for the exercise of their zeal and piety. The whole history 
of human character furnishes no more illustrious examples of self- 
devotion than are to be found in the records of the establishments 
of the Roman Catholic missionaries, whose faith and fervor ena- 
bled them to combat the difficulties around them in life, or to 
triumph over them in death. 

By the operation of these causes a knowledge of the great fea- 
tures of the continent was gradually acquired, and the circle of 
French power and influence enlarged. As early as 1632, seven 
years only after the foundations of Quebec were laid, the mission- 
aries had penetrated to Lake Huron by the route of Grand River, 
and Father Sagard has left an interesting narrative of their toils 
and suflTerings upon its bleak and sterile shores. The Wyandots 
had been driven into that region from the banks of the St. Law- 
rence, by their inveterate enemies, the Iroquois, whose valor, 



flIStORY OIP MICHIGAN. 



83 



enterprise and success constitute the romance of Indian history. 
The good priests accompanied them in this expatriation, and if 
they could not prevent their sufferings, they shared them. No 
portion of those wide domains was secure from the conquering 




COL. WM. M. FENTON. 

Wm. M. Fenton, one of the greatest of Micliigan men, was bom on 
the 19th of December, 1808, in Norwich, Chenango county. New York. 
Here liis fatlier, Hon. .Josepli S. Fenton, was one of the first citizens in 
wealth and social position, being a prominent banker, and an elder in 
the Presbyterian church, of which he was one of the main pillars of 
support. His mother, a member of the same church, was distinguished 
for devoted piety and an earnest zeal in every good work. 

William was the eldest of nine children, and in early life, while under 
the parental roof, was remarkable for his integrity and great love for 
knowledge, which made him a most indefatigable student, so that when 



84 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Iroquois, and they pursued tlieir discomfited enemies with relent- 
less fury. Little would be gained by an attempt to describe the 
events of this exterminating warfare. "The details are as afflict- 
ing," says General Cass, " as any recorded in the long annals of 
human vengeance and human sufferings." Villages were sacked; 
and by night and by day, in winter and in summer, there was nei- 
ther rest nor safety lor the vanquished. The character of the 
missionaries did not exempt them from a lull participation in the 
misfortunes of their converts, and many of them were murdered 
at the foot of the altar, with the crucifix in their hands and the 
name of God upon their lips. Some were burned at the stake, 
with all those horrible accompaniments of savage ingenuity which 
add intensity to the pangs of the victims and duration to their 
sufferings. But nothing could shake the fortitude of these apos- 
tles. They lived the life of saints, and died the death of martyrs. 
It is now difficult to conceive what, however, is now well authen- 
ticated, that two hundred years ago the great central point of 
Indian influence and intelligence was upon the southern shore of 

but fourteen years of age he passed his examination, and entered Hamii- 
ton College. From this institution he graduated at the head of his class 
in 1827, at the age of eighteen, when the most of students are only pre- 
pared to enter. From the college halls he went into the banking house 
of his father. The confinement consequent upon this business was too 
close for his feeble health, and after a service of but a few months, he 
entered upon a seafaring life, shipping from Charleston, S. C, as a com- 
mon sailor. Four years later he left this occupation, having acquired 
that physical culture and discipline, and gained that knowledge of 
human nature, wliich proved of great service to him through the remain- 
der of his life. At the time of quitting his marine life lie was mate of a 
merchantman, and was offered the captaincy of a similar craft. 

In April, 1884, he married a daughter of Judge James Birdsall, of 
Norwich, and u\ July of the same year emigrated to Micliigan, at the 
age of twenty-six. After residing for two years at Pontiac, being 
engaged in mercantile pursuits, he removed to Genesee county, and 
purchased the laud where the village of Feutou now stands. 

In 1839 he commenced the study of law in Fentonville, and in 1841, 
with Andrew Parsons, afterwards Governor, was admitted to Ihe bar. 
Soon after he engaged in politics, and his talents a^ a lawyer, and his 
extensive knowledge of men and things, at once made him a leader in 



I 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 85 

Lake Supevior, aud far townrd its western extremity. This was 
the seat of the Chippewa power, aud here was baiaing the eternal 
tire whose extinction foretold , if it did not ocoujiion a national 
calamity. "No fact," says General Ca.ss, "is better established in 
the wliole rano-e of Indian history, than the devotion of some, if 
not all the tribes, to this characteristic feature of the ancient 
superstition of the Magi. And it proves their separation from the 
primitive stock at an early day, when this belief was prevalent 
among the eastern nations. All the ceremonies attending the 
preservation of this tire yet lived in Indian traditiou, aud it was 
still burning when the French first appeared among them. There 
were male aud female guardians, to whose care it was committed ; 
and when we recollect the solemn, and ritual, and dreadful impre- 
cations with which the same pledge of Roman safety was guarded 
and preserved, it ought not to surprise us that such importance 
was attached by the Indians, whose duration was to be coeval with 
their national existence. The augury has proved but too true. 
The fire is extinct, aud the power has departed from them. We 
have trampled on the one and overthrown the other." 

the Democratic party, of which he was a member. In 1844 he was the 
candidate of his party for representative in the State Legislature, but was 
defeated. At the next election, however, he was chosen Senator from 
the district comprising the counties of Oakland, Macomb, Genesee and 
Livingston. He was twice elected Lieutenant-Governor, serving from 
1848 to 1852 inclusive, while Governors Ransom and Barry were in office. 
He presided with dignity and ability over the Senate, and had the party 
to which he belonged continued in power, he would undoubtedly have 
been raised to the office of Governor. He was twice nominated for Cir- 
cuit Judge by his party, and had he been elected he would have secured 
the same praise which he so unanimously received while performing 
other responsible public duties. 

In 1850 Mr. Fenton removed to Flint, where he resided until his death. 
He was appointed Register of the Land Office in that citj' by President 
Pierce, in 1852, aud held the position until the office was removed to 
Saginaw. During the year 1856 he traveled through Europe with his 
family, for the purpose of improving his wife's failing healtli. Return- 
ing, he was elected Mayor of Flint in 1858. 

When the first murmurings of the late civil war were indistinctly 
heard throughout our land, the voice of Mr. Fenton was raised far above 



86 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

As the course of the French trade first took the route of the 
Ottawa River, their establishment upon the upper lakes preceded 
their settlements on the Detroit River. Soon after the middle of 
the seventeenth century trading posts were established at Michili- 
mackinac and the Sault Ste. Marie, at Green Bay, at Chicago and 
at St. Joseph. It was soon known, from the reports of the 
Indians, that a great river flowed through the country beyond the 
lakes in a southerly direction. 

In August, 1665, Father Claude Allouez founded the first per- 
manent white settlement on Lake Superior, among the kindly and 
hospitable Indians of the northwest. He soon lighted the torch 
of Catholicism at the council fires of more than twenty nations. 
He came in peace, the messenger of religion and virtue, and he 
found warm friends. The Chippewas gathered round him to 
receive instruction ; Pottawatomies, Sacs, Foxes, and even Illinois, 
an hospitable race, having no weapon but the bow and arrow, 
diminished in numbers by wars with the Sioux and the Iroquois, 
came to rehearse their sorrows in the hearing of this devoted mis- 

the din of party discord for his country, which he loved so well. He 
had been and was a Democrat, but he was more than either Democrat or 
Republican — he was a true patriot, and, dropping all considerations of a 
party character, he offered his services to his country in a way that at 
once attested his devotion to the principles of American union, and 
proved how much dearer his country was to him than his life. His 
wealth was also freely given to sustain the cause for which he fought, 
and, when financial difficulties first faced the government, he telegraphed 
to Governor Blair that the sum of |o,000 of his private means was at the 
disposal of the State for the equipment of the State troops. Early in the 
season of 1861 he was appointed a member of the State Military Board, 
and shortly afterward he received the appointment of major of the Seventh 
Infantry. On the 7th of August following, being commissioned by Gov- 
ernor Blair, colonel of the Eighth Infantry, he, with that regiment, started 
for the seat of war in Virginia, on the 37th of September, 1861. This regi- 
ment he was mainly instrumental in recruiting, and he seemed to diffuse 
his own courage through the entire command. No regiment has a better 
record, and, while health permitted, his record and that of the Eighth 
are identical. The rapidity and number of its marches were such as to 
give it the name of the " wandering regiment." From the time that it 
started for the seat of war until November 1st, 1861, a little more than 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 87 

siouary. His curiosity was roused by their account of the noble 
river on which they dwelt, and which flowed toward the south. 
" They had no forests, but instead of them vast prairies, where 
herds of deer, and buffalo, and other animals, grazed on the tall 
grasses." They explained, also, the wonders of their peace pipe, 
and declared it to be their custom to welcome the friendly stranger 
with shouts of joy. " Their country," said Allouez, " is the best 
field for the gospel; had I leisure I would have gone to their 
dwellings, to see with my own eyes all the good that was told me 
of them." 

In 1668 additional missionaries arrived from France, who, fol- 
lowing in the footsteps of those already mentioned, Dablon and 
Marquette, founded the mission at St. Mary's Falls, on the shores 
of Lake Superior. While residing at St. Mary's, Father Mar- 
quette resolved to explore the Mississippi, of whose magnificence 
he had heard so much. Some Pottawatomie Indians, having 
heard him express this resolution, attempted to turn him from his 
purpose. " Those distant nations," said they, " never spare the 

thirty clays, it had been engaged in nine battles, occurring in four differ- 
ent States, South Cai'olina, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland. From this 
time until April 16th, 18M2, it was engaged most creditably in several 
battles, and afterwards became specially noted in the spirited engagement 
at the reconnoissance made on board the steamer " Honduras," by Colonel 
Fenton, at Wilmington Island, Ga., where, after landing from the boat, 
it encountered the Thirteenth Georgia, about eight hundi'ed strong, and 
drove them from the field in confusion. On the 16th of June following 
an assault was made on the enemy's works at Secessionville, on James's 
Island, S. C. The direct attack was made by Colonel Fenton, under 
General Stevens. Colonel Fenton led the brigade, while his own gallant 
regiment was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Graves. This was one 
of the most dashing ^ssaults of the war, but made at a distressing sacri- 
fice of life. 

Colonel Fenton's health failing, he was compelled to tender his resig- 
nation, which was accepted in March, 1863, after having done his country 
incalculable service. His name has passed into the history of his coun- 
try, and his gallantry and patriotism have become a part of the record of 
which his State may well feel proud. When he could no longer serve in 
the army, his whole energies and wide influence were given to aid the 
government in its mighty struggle to remain intact. 



88 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

stranger; the great river abounds with monsters which devour 
both men and canoes." 

" I shall gladly," replied Marquette, " lay down my life for the 
salvation of souls." Such was the noble spirit of this brave and 
worthy missionary, such his entire devotedness to the sacred prin- 
ciples of that religion of which he was the humble expounder. 

Continued and peaceful commerce with the French having con- 
firmed the attachment of the Indian tribes of Canada and the 
Noi'thwest, a friendly alliance was now sought with them which 
was well calculated to extend the power of France on the conti- 
nent. In May, 1671, a grand Indian council was held at the Falls 
of St. Mary's. At this council, convoked by the agents of the 
French government, it was announced to the tribes assembled 
from the banks of the Mississippi, the head springs of the St. 
Lawrence and the Red River, that they were placed under the 
protection of the French king, formal possession being taken of 
Canada and the Northwest by officers acting under his authority. 
The Jesuit missionaries were present to consecrate the imposing 

In 1864 lie was the Democratic candidate for governor of the State, in 
opposition to Governor Crapo. 

Upon his return from the seat of war, he gave his attention to the prac- 
tice of liis profession, in whicli he ranlied very liigh, and to the details of 
his personal business, which was quite large. He built the magnificent 
block in Flint which bears his name, was the founder of the Citizens' 
National Bank in that city, and the president of it at the time of his 
death. He was also chief engineer of the Fire Department of that city, 
and, while in the performance of the arduous duties of that office, he met 
with the accident which caused his death. 

On the evening of May 11th, 1871, hearing an alarm of fire, he ran 
rapidly to the rescue, striking himself against a hitching post with great 
violence, from which he received the injuries which resulted in his death 
at eleven o'clock the following evening. 

The death of Colonel Fenton was a blow felt througliout the State, but 
more especially in his own city, where he occupied a position which but 
few men can ever attain. On the day of his funeral, all places of business 
in Flint were closed, and his remains were followed to their last resting 
place by a funeral cortege which constituted the most striking and bril- 
liant spectacle ever witnessed in that city, being conducted under the 
imposing ceremonies of the Knights Templar. 



90 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ceremonial. A cross of cedar was erected, and by its side rose a 
column of similar wood, on which was engraved the lilies of the 
Bourbons. The authority and faith of France being thus pro- 
claimed, " the whole company, bowing before the image of man's 
redemption, chanted to its glory a hymn of the seventh century." 

On the 10th of June, 1673, Father Marquette, who had long 
entertained the idea of exploring the Mississippi, the great river 
of the West, accompanied by Joliet, five Frenchmen, and two 
Algonquin guides, ascended to the head of the Fox River, and, 
carrying their two bark canoes across the narrow portage which 
divides the Fox River from the Wisconsin, launched them upon 
the waters of the latter. The guides now left them, and for seven 
days they floated down the stream, between alternate prairies and 
hill sides, beholding neither man nor beast — through the solitudes 
of a wilderness, the stillness of which overawed their spirits. At 
length, to their inexpressible joy, their frail canoes struck the 
mighty waters of the Mississippi, rolling through verdant prairies 
dotted with herds of buffalo, and its banks overhung with primi- 
tive forests. 

Having sailed down this noble stream for about sixty leagues, 
they discovered, toward the close of June, an Indian trail on its 
western bank. It was like the human footste[)s which Robinson 
Crusoe saw in tlie sand, and which liad not been effaced by the 
rising of the tides or the rolling of the waters. A little footpath 
was soon found, and, leaving their companions in the canoes, Mar- 
quette and Joliet determined to brave alone a meeting with the 
savages. After following the little path for about six miles, they 
discovered an Indian village. First imploring the protection of 
Divine Providence, they made known their presence to the Indi- 
ans by uttering a loud cry. " At this cry," says Marquette, " the 
Indians rushed out of their cabins, and, having probably recog- 
nized us as French, especially seeing a ' black gown,' or at least 
having no reason to distrust us, seeing we were but two, and had 
made known our coming, they deputed four old men to come and 
speak with us. Two carried tobacco pipes, well adorned and 
trimmed with many kinds of feathers. They marched slowly, 
lifting their pipes toward the sun, as if offering them to him to 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



91 



smoke, but yet without uttering a single word. They were a long 
time coming the little way from the village to us. Having 
reached us at last, they stopped to consider us attentively. I now 
took courage, seeing these ceremonies, which are used by them 




HON. MARTIN S. BRACKETT. 

Martin S. Brackett, one of the leading men of the Peninsular Rail- 
way of this State, was born at Elbridge, Onondaga County, New York, 
December 19th, 1810. He is the youngest son of Captain Ezra Brackett, 
who was one of the first settlers of Elbridge. Mr. Brackett's boyhood 
days were passed with his father, on whose farm and in whose brickyard 
he worked during the summers, and attended school during the winters. 
At the age of fifteen he commenced his studies in the academy at Onon- 
daga Hollow, where he remained three terms. At the expiration of the 
third term, he returned to his native town, and continued his studies 



92 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ouly with friends ; I tlierefore spoke to them first, and asked them 
who they were. ' We are,' said they, 'Illinois,' and, in token of 
peace, they presented us their pipes to smoke. They then invited 
us to their village, where all the tribe awaited us with impatience. 
These pipes are called in the couutiy calumets." 

Our travelers having arrived at the village, an aged chief bid 
them welcome to his cabin with uplifted hands, their usual method 
of receiving strangers. " How beautiful," said the chief, " is the 
sun. Frenchman, when thou eomest to visit us ! Our whole vil- 
lage awaits thee ; thou shalt enter in peace into all our dwellings." 

A gi-and council of the whole tribe was held, which Marquette 
addressed on the subject of the Christian religion, informing them 
at the same time that the French king had subjugated their ene- 
mies, the Iroquois, and questioning them respecting the Mississippi 
and the tribes which inhabited its banks. The missionary having 
finished, the sachem of the Illinois arose, and spoke thus : " I 
thank thee, black gown, and thee. Frenchman," addressing M. 
Joliet, " for taking so much pains to come and visit us. Never 
has the earth been so beautiful, nor the sun so bright as to-day ; 
never has our river been so calm, nor so free from rocks, which 
your canoes have removed as they passed ; never has our tobacco 

under the instructions of the Rev. Timothy Stowe, pastor of the Presby- 
terian churcli of that village, until the latter part of the summer of 1828. 
At this time Mr. Brackett, for his brother, took charge of a large number 
of men and teams going overland to Washington, D. C. , and assisted in 
the construction of nine miles of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, in 
which there were nine locks. This work occupied some two years, at 
the end of which he again returned to Elbridge, and resumed his studies 
with the reverend gentleman heretofore mentioned. 

In the spring of 1831 he commenced civil engineering, under the super- 
vision of .ludge Wright, in the State of New Jersey, and assisted in the 
construction of the canal built through New Jersey at that time, and also 
the partial excavation of the canal for the water works at Trenton. The 
Trenton Company being enjoined from further proceedings, Mr. Brack- 
ett went to Philadelphia, and took a contract on the Philadelphia, Ger- 
mantown and Morristown Railroad. After finishing his contract on 
this road, he went to New York City and contracted with Robert L. 
Stevens, Esq., to furnish the stone blocks for the Camden and Amboy 
Railroad. Completing this contract, he returned to Onondaga and 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 93 

had so fine a flavor, nor our corn appeared so beautiful as we 
behold it to-day. Here is my son that I give thee, that thou 
mayest know my heart. I pray thee to take pity on me and all 
my nation. Thou knowest the Great Spirit who has made us all, 
thou speakest to him and hearest his word ; ask him to give me 
life and health, and come and dwell with us that we may know 
him." 

" Saying this," says Marquette, " he placed the little slave near 
us, and made us a second present, an all-mysterious calumet, 
which they value more than a slave. By this present he showed 
us his esteem for our governor, after the account we had given of 
him. By the third he begged us, in behalf of the whole nation, 
not to proceed further, on account of the great dangers to which 
we exposed ourselves. I replied that I did not fear death, and 
that I esteemed no happiness greater than that of losing my life 
for the glory of Him who made all." 

This council was followed by a festival of Indian meal, fish, 
and the choicest products of the prairies. The town, consisting of 
about three hundred cabins, was then visited. Its inhabitants, 
who had never before seen a Frenchman, gazed at them with 
astonishment, and made them presents. " While we marched 

entered the law office of the Hon. James R. Lawrence, where he studied 
the legal profession for over two years. 

In 1836 the Auburn and Syracuse Railroad was commenced, and Mr. 
Brackett contracted for and completed the heaviest work on the line. It 
was also under his supervision that the Erie Canal was enlarged from 
Syracuse to Geddes. 

In the spring of 1838 Mr. Brackett removed to Micliigan, settling in the 
village of Bellevue, where he still resides. He officiated as Deputy 
County Clerk at the first term of the Circuit Court held in his county, in 
in the autumu of 1838, the Hon. .Judge Ransom presiding. The same 
fall he entered the firm of Gibbs & Bradley, attorneys, in Marshall, and, 
in the following year, was admitted to the practice of his profession in 
all the courts of the State. During the autumn of this j^ear he was 
elected to the office of County Clerk, which position he held for three 
successive terms, perforniiug the duiles of the office in a creditable and 
highly satisfactory manner. Immediately upon the expiration of his 
third term as County Clerk, the citizens of liis county chose him as their 
Prosecuting Attorney, in which official position he remained three years, 



94 QfiliERAL EtIStORY OF* THE STATES 

through the streets," says Marquette, " au orator was constantly 
haranguing, to oblige all to see us without being troublesome. 
We were everywhere presented with belts, garters, and other 
articles, made of the hair of the bear and wild cattle, dyed red, 
yellow and gray. These are their rarities, but, not being of con- 
sequence, we did not burden ourselves with them. We slept in 
the sachem's cabin, and the next day took leave of him, promising 
to pass back through his town in four moons. He escorted us to 
our canoes with nearly six hundred persons, who saw us embark, 
evincing in every possible way the pleasure our visit had given 
them." 

The following is a brief abstract from the account given by 
Father Marquette of the manners and customs of the Illinois 
Indians at the period of his visit. Haj^pily, the Jesuits were 
men of learning and observation, who felt the importance of their 
position, so that while faithfully discharging the duties of their 
religious profession, they carefully recorded the progress of events 
around them : 

" To say ' Illinois ' is, in their language, to say ' the men,' as if 
other Indians compared to them were beasts. They are divided 
into several villages, some of which are quite distant from each 

holding it one year by appointment. In 1842 he received the nomination 
of the Whig party for State Senator, but, with his party, was defeated at 
the election. In 1848, finding himself diftering in many essential points 
from the Whigs, he left that party and joined his fortunes with the Demo- 
crats, from whom he received the nomination for State Senator in 1856, 
and for Lieutenant-Governor in 1864. 

On the 7th of September, 1865, the Peninsular Railway Company waa 
organized in Mr. Brackett's office, in Bellevue, at which time he was 
elected a director, and secretary and attorney of the company. He has 
held these offices ever since, with the exception of the office of secretary, 
which was held by the Hon. Charles W. Clisbie from February, 1868, 
until March, 1869. 

Mr. Brackctt also held the office of Grand Worthy Chief of the Inde 
pendent Order of Good Templars of the State, for three years. 

As a man he has at all times contributed much towards the reformation 
of the evils by which his fellow man WaS surrounded, and has ever 
worked for the good of his town and State. 



HISTOHY OF MICHIGAN. 



95 



other, and which produces a diversity in their language, which in 
general has a great affinity for the Algonquin. They are mild 
and tractable in disposition, have many wives, of whom they are 
extremely jealous ; they watch them carefully, and cut off their 




HON. TIMOTHY JEROME. 

Timothy Jerome, of Saginaw City, was born in the vicinity of Tru- 
mansburg, N. Y., in 1820. His parents settled in Detroit in 1828, and, 
except from 1831 to 1884, he lias resided in the Territory and State of 
Michigan ever since — in St. Clair countj' until 1852, and from that time in 
Saginaw county. During the whole period of his residence in the latter 
county he has lived in the city of Saginaw, and there he has fixed his 
permanent abode. During his boyhood the opportunities for education 
in Michigan were limited, but he made the most of them. Though his 
attainments as a scholar were not such as to give any particular direction 



96 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

noses and ears when they do not behave well ; I saw several who 
bore the marks of their infidelity. They are well formed, nimble 
and very adroit in using the bow and arrow. They use guns, 
also, which they buy of our Indian allies, who trade with the 
French ; they use them especially to terrify the nations against 
whom they go to war. These nations have no knowledge of Euro- 
peans, are unacquainted with the use of either iron or copper, and 
have nothing but stone knives." When the Illinois go to war, a 
loud cry is made at the door of each hut in the village, the 
morning and evening before the warriors set out. " The chiefs 
are distinguished from the soldiers by a scarf, ingeniously made 
of the hair of bears and wild oxen. The face is painted with red 
lead, or ochre, which is found in great quantities a few days' 
journey from the village. They live by game, which is abundant 
in this country, and on Indian corn. They also sow beans and 
melons. Their squashes they dry in the sun, to eat in the winter 
and spring. Their cabins are very large, and lined and floored 
with rush mats. They make all their dishes of wood, and their 
spoons of the bones of the buffalo. Their only clothes are skins ; 
their women are always dressed very modestly and decently, 
while the men do not take any pains to cover themselves. 

"It now only remains for me to speak of the calumet, than 
which there is nothing among them more mysterious or more 
esteemed. Men do not pay to the crowns and sceptres of kings 

to his labors in later life, they were sufBcieut, with the practical training 
of experience in his early manhood, to discipline his mind and develop 
his versatile talent. 

In business he has displayed a resolute courage and great fertility of 
mental resource. He has succeeded as a lumberman, in steamboating, 
and in important and delicate negotiations. As the fruit of his varied 
operations, he has acquired a goodly property, and is recognized as one 
of the solid men of the Saginaw Valley. 

He served one term in the Michigan Legislature, as member of the 
House for Saginaw county, in 185 T-8. With that exception, and though 
occasionally a zealous politician, he has udc held nor souglit office. 

Socially he is genial, attractive in manner and conver.satiou, surrounded 
with hosts of friends and admirers. He is warm in his friendships, and 
possesses an unusually long and grateful memory of little kindnesses. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 97 

the honor they pay to it. It seems to be the god of peace and 
Avai", the arbiter of life and death. Carry it about you and show 
it, and you can march fearlessly amid enemies, who, even in the 
heat of battle, lay down their arms when it is shown. Hence the 
Illinois gave me one, to serve as a safeguard amid all the Indian 
nations that I had to pass on my voyage." 

Such is the account left by Marquette of the condition of the 
Illinois Indians, at the time of his visit, in 1673. Taking leave 
of these hospitable savages, our adventurous travelers once more 
launched forth on the broad waters of the Mississippi. As they 
floated down this noble river day after day, they gradually entered 
on the richer scenery of a southern climate. The sombre pines 
of the woods of Canada, the forests of oak and maple, were, by 
degrees, exchanged for the lofty Cottonwood, the fan-like palmetto, 
and the noble arborescent ferns of the tropics. They began to 
suffer from the increasing heat, and from legions of mosquitos, 
which haunt the swampy margin of the stream. At length they 
arrived at that part of the stream which, upwards of a century 
before, had been discovered by De Soto and his ill-fated compan- 
ions, in the country of the war-like Chickasaws. Here they were 
attacked by a fleet of canoes filled with Indians, armed with bows 
and arrows, clubs, and axes ; but when the old men got a fair 
view of the calumet, or peace-pipe, w^hich Marquette continually 
held up to view, their hearts were touched, and they restrained the 

In the ordinary routine and exigencies of business, he is prompt, diligent, 
and quietly executive — he works out his plans without display. He has 
ever been punctilious in the performance of his undertakings, and so 
moderate and just in his dealings, that he has seldom, if ever, been a 
party to any litigation. 

It is apparent, from many interesting episodes in his life, that he sel 
dom puts forth more than a minimum of his strength. When occasions 
arise of such interest or importance as to thoroughly arouse him, he dis- 
plays powers of argument, ridicule and irony, amounting to genius. 
None of these outbursts are the result of preparation ; they come from a 
sudden impulse, like an inspiration ; they are eloquence in words and 
action — quick, apropos and decisive. His antagonist is first astonished, 
then confounded, then overwhelmed ; without the opportunity or power 
of resistance, he is seized and subdued, as by a coup de main. 
7 



98 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

impetuosity of their young warriors by throwing their bows and 
arrows into the two canoes, as a token of peace and welcome. 
Having been hospitably entei'tained by these Indians, they were 
escorted the following day by a deputation in a canoe, which pre- 
ceded them as far as the village of Akamsea (Arkansas). Here 
they were received most kindly ; the natives continually bringing 
wooden dishes of sagamity — Indian corn — or pieces of dog flesh, 
which were, of course, respectfully declined. These Indians 
cooked in earthen pots, and served their food on earthenware 
dishes ; were very amiable and unceremonious, each man helping 
himself from the dish, and passing it on to his neighbor. 

It was here that the travelers wisely terminated their explora- 
tions. "M. Joliet and I," says Marquette, "held a council to 
deliberate on what we should do — whether we should push on, or 
rest satisfied with the discoveries we had made. After having 
attentively considered that we were not far from the Gulf of 
Mexico, the basin of which is 31° 40' north, and we at 33° 40', 
so that we could not be more than two or three days' journey off*; 
that the Mississippi undoubtedly had its mouth in Florida, or the 
Gulf of Mexico, and not on the east, in Virginia, whose seacoast 
is 34° north. Moreover, we considered that we risked losing the 
fruit of our voyage if we fell into the hands of the Spaniards, 
who would undoubtedly make us prisoners ; and that we were not 
in condition to resist the Indians who infested the lower parts of 
the river. All these considerations induced us to return. This 
Ave announced to the Indians, and, after a day's rest, prepared for 
it." 

On their return, they left the Mississippi at the thirty-eighth 
degree of latitude, and entered the Illinois River, which greatly 
shortened their voyage. The country through which this river 
flows was found to be full of fertile and beautiful prairies, abound- 
ing in wild ducks, swans, parrots, and turkeys. The tribe of 
Illinois living on its banks entreated Marquette and his compan- 
ions to come and live with them ; but as Marquette intimated his 
anxiety to continue his voyage, a chosen party conducted him by 
way of Chicago to Lake Michigan ; and before the end of Sep- 
tember all were once more safely landed at Green Bay. Joliet 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



99 



returned to Quebec to announce the discoveries they had made, 
whilst Marquette remained to preach the gospel to the Miamis, near 
Chicago. 

Father James Marquette having promised the Illinois Indians 




THOMAS P. SHELDON, 

Thomas P. Sheldon, a leading banker of East Saginaw, Michigan, 
was born in White Pigeon, St. Josepli county, Michigan, in 1833. His 
parents removed to Detroit when he was but a child, where he remained 
until the spring of 1862, when he permanently located in East Saginaw, 
taking charge of the Saginaw Valley Bank. In 1867 he severed his con- 
nection with that institution, and organized a Savings Bank in that city, 
which he is still conducting with marked ability. 

Mr. Sheldon is an energetic business man, well qualified to manage the 



100 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

to return among them to teach them the gospel, had great diffi- 
culty in keeping his word. The hardships of his first voyage had 
brought on a disease which deterred him from undertaking a 
second. His malady, however, abating, and having obtained the 
permission of his superiors, he set out for this purpose in the month 
of November, 1674, with two men, one of whom had already 
made his first voyage with him. During a month's navigation on 
the Illinois Lake — Lake Michigan — his health became partially 
restored ; but when winter set in, his old malady returned with 
increased violence, and he was forced to stop in the river which 
leads to the Illinois. Here he spent the winter in such want of 
every comfort, that his illness constantly increased. The ice 
breaking up on the approach of spring, and feeling somewhat bet- 
ter, he continued his voyage, and at length was enabled to fulfill 
his promise to the Illinois, arriving at their town on the 8th of 
April, where he was enthusiastically received. Being compelled 
to leave them by the return of his malady, he resumed his voyage, 
and soon after reached the Illinois Lake. His strength gradually 
failed as he sailed along the shores of the lake, and his men 
despaired of being able to carry him alive to the end of his jour- 
ney. Perceiving a little river, with an eminence on the bank not 
far from its mouth, at his request his companions sailed into it, 
and carried him ashore. Here they constructed a " wretched bark 
cabin, where they laid him as little uncomfortably as they could ; 
but they were so overcome by sadness that, as they afterward said, 
they did not know what they were doing." Perceiving his end 
approaching, he called his companions and embraced them for the 
last time, they melting in tears at his feet. He then directed that 
his crucifix, which he wore constantly around his neck, should be 
held before his eyes ; and after repeating the profession of his 
faith, he devoutly thanked God for his gracious kindness in allow- 
ing him to die as a humble missionary of Jesus Christ, and above 
all to die as he had always prayed that he might die — in a rude 



affairs of a banking institution, and the material success wliicli he has 
fairly earned is alike beneficial to himself and to the place in which he 
Uas labored. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 101 

cabin in the forests, destitute of all human aid. He afterwards 
became silent, his whole appearance denoting that he was con- 
versing inwardly with God. His countenance then suddenly 
brightened with a smile, and he expii'ed without a struggle. 

His two poor broken-hearted companions, after shedding many 
tears over his inanimate body, carried it devoutly to the grave, 
and raised a large cross near it, to serve as a mark to passers by. 

Did the savages respect that cross ? They did. We can pro- 
nounce no higher enlogium on Father James Marquette, than the 
fact that the Kiskakon Indians, to whom he had preached the 
gospel, retui-niug from hunting on the banks of Lake Illinois, 
repaired to the missionary's grave, and, after mature deliberation, 
resolved to act with their father as they usually did with the best 
beloved of their own tribe. They reverently disinterred the 
remains, and putting them into a neatly constructed box of birch 
bark, removed them from the wilderness to the nearest Catholic 
church, where they were solemnly buried with appropriate cere- 
monies. 



CHAPTER VI. 



ROBEKT DE LA SaLLE — FiRST VESSEL ON LaKE ErIE — LoSS OF THE 

Griffin — Unfortunate Expedition in Search of the Missis- 
sippi — Mutinous Conduct op La Salle's Men — Death of La 
Salle — His Character — Fate of His Companions. 

About the time of the death of Father Marquette there dwelt, 
at the outlet of Lake Ontario, Robert Cavalier de la Salle, an 
adventurer of good family, who was educated by the Jesuits. 
He was engaged in the fur trade with the Indians, in the prosecu- 
tion of which he had explored Lakes Ontario and Erie. His 
energy and ability having attracted the attention of Frontenac, 
the French Governor, he repaired to France, and, aided by Fron- 
tenac, obtained a patent of nobility, a monopoly of the trade with 
the Iroquois, and an extensive tract of country in the neighbor- 
hood of Fort Frontenac, on the condition of his keeping the fort 
in an effective state. Around this stronghold soon clustered the 
huts of Indians and the dwellings of French traders. Their 
flocks and herds increased, pasture-land and corn-covered clear- 
ings opened up the forest; groups of Iroquois built their cabins 
in the environs; the missionaries commenced their labors; canoes 
multiplied upon the borders of the lake; and La Salle, but yes- 
terday a poor adventurer, suddenly found himself invested with 
all the power and opulence belonging to a feudal sovereign in the 
wilderness. 

But his ambitious spirit would not let him rest contented with 
what he had acquired. Having heard of the mighty river of the 
far West, and the discoveries of Marquette, his imagination 
became inflamed, and he was induced to undertake schemes of 
colonization and aggrandizement, which ended in disaster and 
death. 

In 1677 La Salle sailed to France and sought an interview with 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



103 



Colbert, then prime minister. To him he proposed the union of 
New France with the valley of the Mississippi, and suggested 
their close connection l)y a line of military posts. He proposed 
also to open the commerce of Europe to them both. Colbert lis- 




HON. JONATHAN B. TUTTLE. 

Jonathan Browne Tuttle, the subject of this sketch, was born at 
Lodi, Medina County, Ohio, on the 15th day of August, 1841. His par- 
ents were New Enghmd people, who emigrated to Ohio at an early day. 
Mr. Tuttle's early life Avas spent in his native village, and his education 
obtained in the local schools and at Oberlin College. At the age of sev- 
enteen Mr. Tuttle began the study of law in the office of Wm. F. Moore, 
and afterwards pursued a regular course of study at the Ohio State and 
Union Law College, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated in the early 



104 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

tened with delight to the gigantic schemes of the young enthusiast, 
and a royal commission was soon procured, empowering him to 
explore the valley of the Mississippi, and giving him an exclusive 
monopoly in the trade of buffalo skins. 

On the 14th of July, 1678, La Salle sailed from France with 
all needful supplies for the voyage, and merchandise for the Indian 
trade, and in the month of September arrived again at Fort 
Frontenac. Having built " a wooden canoe " of ten tons burden, 
— the first that ever sailed on the Niagara River — he ascended 
that river to the vicinity of the great falls, and, above them, com- 
menced building a ship of 60 tons burden, which, in the summer 
of 1679, was launched on the waters of Lake Erie, amid a salvo 
from his artillery, and the chanting of the Te Deum. In this 
vessel, which was called the Grifiin, La Salle sailed across Lake 
Erie, and up the Detroit, or strait Avhich separates it from that 
limpid sheet of water, to which he gave the appropriate name of 
Lake St. Clair ; and having escaped from storms on Lake Huron, 
and constructed a trading-house at Mackinaw, on Lake Michigan, 
he cast anchor in Green Bay. 

In Green Bay La Salle bartered his goods with the natives for 
a rich cargo of furs, with which the Griffin Avas loaded and sent 
back to Niagara, that the peltry might be sold and a remittance 
made to his creditors. In the meantime La Salle and his com- 
panions, pending the return of the Grifiin with supplies, ascended 
Lake Michigan to the mouth of the St. Joseph, where the mission- 
ary Allouez had established a station, and to which he now added 
a fort, known as the Fort of the Miamis. His whole fortune 
depended on the return of the Griffin, and of her no tidings were 



part of the year 1862, being the youngest of a graduating class of forty- 
five. He began his practice the same year at Cleveland, in the office of 
General John Crowell. ♦ 

In the summer of the same year Mr. Tuttle entered the Union army as 
a private soldier, and, after passing througli various grades of promotion 
to that of ("iptain of infantry, was honorably discharged, by reason of 
pliysical disabilitj', in the summer of 18(54. Soon after leaving the army, 
Mr. Tuttle located at the city of Alpena, wliich then was a small liamlet, 
and entered upon tlie praetice of law. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 105 

heard. Wearied with delay, he resolved to explore the Illinois 
territory ; and leaving ten men to guard his little fort, La Salle, 
with a chosen body of thirty followers, ascended the St. Joseph's 
River, and transporting his bark canoes across a short portage, 
entered the Kankakee, a branch of the Illinois River. Descend- 
ing its narrow stream, the travelers reached, by the end of Decem- 
ber, an Indian village on the Illinois, the natives of which were 
absent on a hunting expedition. Being in great want of provi- 
sions. La Salle took advantage of their absence to help himself to 
a sufficiency of maize, of which his followers found large quanti- 
ties hidden in holes under their wigwams. The corn having been 
shipped they again set sail, and on the 4th of January, 1680, 
entered Lake Peoria. The Illinois Indians on the banks of this 
lake were friendly, and here La Salle erected another fort. As no 
tidings had been received of his missing vessel, to proceed farther 
without supplies was impossible ; his followers became discouraged, 
and in great despondency he named his new fort " Crevecoeur " — 
broken-hearted — in memory of his trials and misfortunes. 

La Salle now perceived that he must go back himself to Fron- 
tenac for supplies ; and to prevent the entire stagnation of dis- 
covery during his absence, he requested the Jesuit missionary. 
Father Hennepin, Avho accompanied the expedition, to go to the 
Mississippi, and explore that stream to its source, whilst Tonti, a 
veteran Italian, w^as chosen to command in his absence, with 
instructions to endeavor to strengthen and extend his relations 
among the Indians. He then, in the month of March, 1680, with 
only three companions, set off on foot to travel a distance of at 
least 1,200 miles, through marshes and melting snows, through 
thickets and forests, with no supplies but what the gun affi)rded, a 

In 1865 lie was married to Miss Ross, a Canadian lady, by whom he 
lias one child — a daughter. 

He has since held the oflfices of judge of probate, circuit court commis- 
sioner, prosecuting attorney, city attorney, and various others, and con- 
tinues to practice his profession at Alpena, where he still resides, having 
been identified with the growth and development of that active and 
flourishing city. Mr. Tuttle is one of the leading lawyers in the northern 
part of the State. 



lUH GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

blanket and a few t?kins, with which to make moccasins, or Indian 
shoes. No record exists of what befell him on that long journey, 
which he, however, finally accomplished. 

La kSalle found, a.s he fully expected, that the Griffin had been 
wrecked ; that his agents had cheated him ; and that his creditors 
had seized his goods. His courage overcame every difficulty ; and 
by midsummer, in 1680, he returned once more to his little garri- 
son in Illinois, with a body of new adventurers, large supplies of 
merchandise, and stores for rigging a brigantine. But disasters had 
l)efallen his agents during his absence, and the post in Illinois 
was deserted. Having succeeded in finding Tonti, and collecting 
his scattered followers, he .constructed a capacious barge, and in 
the early part of January, 1682, La Salle and his company 
descended the Mississippi to the sea. 

They landed on the bank of the most western channel, about 
three leagues from its mouth. On the 7th, La Salle went to recon- 
noitre the shores of the neighboring sea, while Tonti examined 
the great middle channel. They found there two outlets, beauti- 
ful, large and deep. On the 8th they reaseended the river a little 
above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the 
reach of inundations. Here they prepared a column and a crcjss, 
and to the said column they affixed the arms of France, M'ith this 
inscription : 

"Louis le Grand, Roi de France et de Navarre, regne 
neuvieme avril, 1682." 

The Te Deum was then sung, and after a salute of fire-arms, the 
column was erected by La Salle, who laid claim to the whole of 
the Mississippi valley for the French king, with the usual formali- 
ties. After erecting another fort, called St. Louis, and giving the 
title of Louisiana to the newly discovered territory. La Salle, in 
the autumn of 1683, returned in triumph to France. 

The account given by him of the extraordinary beauty of the 
Mississi])pi valley created the utmost enthusiasm among the 
Fi'ench peoj)le. Prej^arations were immediately commenced by 
the agents of the king, to provide an extensive outfit, and on the 
24th of July, 1684, four vessels, having on board two hundred 



108 GENERAL HISTORY OF THK STATES. 

and eighty persons, ecclesiastics, soldiers, mechanics and emigrants, 
left Roehelle full of ardor and expectation, for the far-famed 
country of Louisiana. The soldiers had for their commander, 
Joutel, a man of courage and truth, who afterwards became the 
historian of this disastrous expedition. 

Misfortunes overtook them from the very commencement of 
their voyage. Difficulties arose between La Salle and the naval 
commander, Avhich impeded the voyage ; and on the 10th of Jan- 
uary, 1685, they unfortunately passed the mouth of the Missis- 
sippi, La Salle soon perceived their error, and wished to return ; 
but this the commander of the fleet refused to do, and they con- 
tinued their course until they arrived at the Bay of Matagorda, 
in Texas. Completely tired of disputes with Beaujeau, the naval 
commander, and conjecturing that the numerous streams which 
had their outlet in the bay, might be branches of the Mississippi, 
or might lead to its discovery. La Salle resolved to disembark. 
'As the vessels entered the harbor, the store-ship, on which the 
infant colony mainly depended, was completely Avrecked by the 
carelessness of the pilot. Calming the terrible energy of his 
grief. La Salle, by the aid of boats from the other vessels, suc- 
ceeded in recovering a part of the cargo, but night coming on, 
and with it a gale of wind, the store-ship was utterly dashed to 
pieces. To add to their distress, a party of Indians came down to 
the shore to plunder the wreck, and murdered two of the volun- 
teers. 

Several of the men who had now landed became discouraged, 
and returned to the fleet, which immediately set sail, leaving La 
Salle with a desponding company of two hundred and thirty souls, 
huddled together in a miserable fort, built with fragments of the 
wreck. Stimulated to extraordinary efforts by the energy and 
example of La Salle, a beautiful spot was selected, and a more 
substantial and comfortable fort constructed. La Salle was the 
architect, and marked the beams, mortises and tenons himself. 
This was the first settlement made in Texas. Desperate and des- 
titute as was the situation of the settlers, they still exceeded in 
numbers those who landed in Virginia, or those who embarked on 
board the Mayflower, and possessed " from the bounty of Louis 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 109 

XIV, more than was contributed by all the English monarchs 
together, for the twelve united colonies on the Atlantic." 

The summer of 1685 was spent in the construction of this 
second fort, which was named Fort St. Louis, and La Salle, having 
finished its erection, set out with a selected party in canoes, in 
search of the Mississippi. After an absence of about four months, 
he returned in rags, having lost twelve or thirteen of his men, and 
completely failed in his object. His presence, however, as usual, 
inspired hope ; and in April, 1686, another exj^edition was 
attempted, which was lured into the interior by brilliant fictions 
of exhaustless mines on the borders of Mexico. This expedition 
returned without ejQTecting any other discovery than that of the 
great exuberance and fertility of the soil in the immediate neigh- 
borhood of the fort. La Salle had succeeded in obtaining a sup- 
ply of maize and beans, and five horses from the Indians, but had 
sufiered greatly ; and of the twenty men he had taken with him 
only eight returned, the remainder having either fallen sick, died, 
or deserted. Affairs had been equally unprosperous at Fort St. 
Louis, during his absence. The only remaining ship was a wreck, 
and the colony had been rapidly thinned by privation, misery and 
exposure, until there remained nothing but a mere handful of 
desperate, disappointed men. 

Amid the ruin of all his prospects, once so proud and flourish- 
ing. La Salle alone remained undaunted ; and, as a last resource, 
determined to visit the French settlements in Illinois, or, if neces- 
sary, his feudal domain in Frontenac, in order to bring aid to 
his perishing colony. On the 12th of January, 1687, La Salle 
set out on his last expedition, accompanied by Joutel, across the 
prairies and forests of Louisiana. In his company were two men, 
Duhaut and L'Archev^que, who had both embarked capital in 
this enterprise. Each regarded the other for immediate purposes 
as his friend ; and both were actuated by a spirit of bitterness and 
animosity against La Salle, whom they regarded as the author of 
all the calamities that had befiillen them. Morauget, a nephew 
of La Salle, was also one of the party following the tracks of 
buffaloes, who chose by instinct the best routes. La Salle marched 
through groves and plains of astonishing fertility and beauty ; 



110 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

now fording the rapid torrents, and now building a bridge by 
throwing some monarch of the forest across the stream, until he 
had passed the Colorado, and came to a branch of the Trinity 
River. 

On the 17th of March, 1687, the whole party engaged in a buf- 
falo hunt. Duhaut and L'Archeveque, having been successful, 
sent their commander Avord, who immediately despatched his 
nephew Morauget to the camp. When Moranget came to the 
spot where Duhaut and the rest were stopping, he found they had 
reserved for themselves the very best parts of the buffaloes ; and 
hasty and passionate, not considering where he was, nor with whom 
he was dealing, he " took from them their choice pieces, threatened 
them, and spoke harsh words." This enraged the mutinous spirits 
of Duhaut and his companions, who secretly took counsel together 
how to effect the destruction of Moranget and his associates. 
Night came on apace, and Moranget and his party having supped, 
wearied with their day's travel, laid themselves down to sleep on 
the prairie. Liotot, the surgeon, now took an axe, and with a few 
strokes killed Moranget and his comrades. Having good reason 
to fear the resentment of La Salle, the murderers next resolved 
to kill him also. Surprised at his nephew's delay. La Salle went 
forth on the 20th to seek him. Perceiving at a distance birds of 
prey, hovering as if over carrion, and suspecting himself to be in 
the immediate neighborhood of his men. La Salle fired a gun, 
which was heard by the conspirators, who were thus made aware 
of his approach. Duhaut and his associate hastened secretly to 
meet their victim — the former skulking in the grass, the latter 
showing himself " Where," said La Salle to L'Archeveque, " is 
my nephew." Before an answer could be returned, Duhaut fired 
and La Salle fell dead on the prairie. The murderers then 
approached, and, with cruel taunts, stripped the corpse, leaving it 
naked and unburied, to be devoured by the wild beasts of the 
wilderness. 

Thus perished La Salle, and with him that colonial settlement 
which he had attempted to form. His fortitude and bravery must 
ever command admiration, while his cruel and undeserved death 
awakens feelings of pity and indignation. Although he was not 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. Ill 

the discoverer, yet he was certainly the first settler of the Mississippi 
valley, and the father of colonization in the "far West." As such 
his memory is imperishable, and will ever be honored. The Illinois 
settlements of Peoria, Kaskaskias, and Cahokia, are the fruit of 
La Salle's labors. It is true he did not found these places, yet he 
gave them their inhabitants, for it was by those whom he led 
into the West that they were peopled. Perseverance and courage, 
combined with a noble ambition to promote the interests of his 
country, led him into a gallant but unsuccessful career of enter- 
prise. He did what he could to benefit his country ; and if he 
had lived he might have achieved much more splendid results. 



CHAPTER VII. 



The Sault Ste. Mauie — Fort St. Joseph — Detroit Foxjnded — Its 
Early Condition — Attacked by the Ottawas — By the Foxes — 
Early French Travelers Through the Lake Region. 

No SETTLEMENT had at this time beeu made at Detroit, because 
the traders and Jesuit missiouaries had a more direct and safer 
route to the upper lakes, from Montreal to Michilimackinac, by 
the way of the Ottawa River. But this point had long been 
regarded an eligible position for a settlement, as it commanded a 
broad tract of country, and stood, as it were, at the gate of the 
ujDper lakes, in a direct route from these lakes to the English col- 
onies of New York, by the way of Lake Erie. 

The French and English both desired to obtain possession of 
this post. But while the English were looking to its acquisition, 
they were anticipated by their rivals. Taking counsel from the 
movements of their opponents, the French called a grand meeting 
of the Iroquois, or Five Nations, at Montreal. The chiefs of the 
different tribes from the St. Lawrence to the Mississii^pi, attended 
this meeting ; also the principal men and the Governor-General of 
Canada. Here the establishment of a post at that place was dis- 
cussed, and the grounds on which the two nations based their 
claims to it weighed. The Iroquois, however, said that, under- 
standing the French were about to make a settlement at that 
point, they were opposed to the measure, as they had already pro- 
hibited the English from doing the same. The Governor-General 
of Canada replied that the laud belonged neither to the Iroquois 
nor to to the English, but to the King of France, and that there 
was already an expedition on the march for the purpose of erect- 
ing a colonial establishment at that place. In accordance with 
this plan, Autoiue de la Motte Cadillac, lord of Bouaget, Mont 
Desert, having beeu granted a tract of fifteen acres square, by 



HISTORY OF MICEnOAN. 113 

Louis XIV, left Montreal, accompanied by a Jesuit missionary 
and one hundred men, and arrived at the point of the wilderness 
which is now the site of Detroit, in the month of July, 1701, where 
they commenced the foundation of the first permanent settlement 




GEN. JOSEPH O. HUDNUT. 

Joseph Opdyke Hudkut, son of Edward and Susan (Opdyke) Hudnut, 
was born at West Sparta, Livingston county, New York, June BO, 1824. 
He prepared for college at Genesee Academy, New York, under Prof. 
Robinson, author of liobinson's series of mathematics. Since gradua- 
tion he has been engaged mostly in civil engineering, with the exception 
of two years and a half in the army during the war of secession. In the 
fall of 1849 he entered on his engineering profession, being engaged on 
the State canals of New York. He remained on the canals during 1849, 



114 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

in Micliigan. Before, it had only been known by the French 
missionaries as a trading post, and in 1620 it was occupied by an 
Indian vilhige, which was called Teuchsa Grondie. The Sault 
Ste. Marie, as we have seen, had at that time been founded, and a 
rude j)ost was also erected at Fort Gratiot, which was a resting- 
point for the fur trade. 

This chain of fortifications was all the defense which was con- 
structed upon the lake shores for nearly a century and a half, and 
it comprised a part of that line of forts that was projected by La 
Salle, extending from the St. Lawrence down the Mississippi to 
New Orleans. Their object was to furnish outposts by which the 
territory of Canada on the borders of the lakes could be held, the 
English settlements hemmed in, the Jesuit missionaries and set- 
tlers protected against the numerous and capricious tribes of sav- 
ages in this quarter, and by which the fur trade might circulate, 
with full success, along the lakes and streams of the Northwest. 
The forts of Detroit, Michilimackinac, St. Joseph and Green Bay, 
were of rude construction, and the chapels erected by their sides 
were used for the religious assemblies of the French settlers, who 
were from that time collected around the po-sts, and also for the 
Indians who were under the special guardianship of the Jesuit 
missionaries. These structures, minute points on the borders of 
the forest, were either roofed with bark or thatched with straw, 
and on their top was generally erected the cross. Tribes of 
friendly Indians that could be induced to settle near them, had 

1850 and 1851. In the spring of 1853 he went to Memphis, Tenn., and 
run the first survey of the railroad from Memphis to Clarksville, Tenn. 
In 1853, 1854 and 1855, he was on the Louisville & Nashville and Louis- 
ville & Covington Railroads, in Kentucky. In 1855 he removed to 
Wavcrly, Iowa, and in that year and in 1856 he was on the Iowa Central 
R. R. In 1858 he taught mathematics in the Genesee Academy, and in 
1859 he taught in the Chicago High School. In the spring of 1860 he 
returned to Iowa, and was engaged as civil engineer on the Hannibal & 
St. Joseph R. R. In the winter of 1861-2 he was a member of the Iowa 
Legislature, and in May, 1862, he entered the army as Major of the 38th 
Regiment of Iowa Volunteers. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 
Colonel and Brigadier-General. While in the army he was much on 
detached service as military engineer, most of the time on the fortifica- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 115 

their villages or wigwams ai'Oiind these posts, and also their plant- 
ing grounds, in which they cultivated Indian corn, not only for 
the French settlers, but also for the persons connected with the fur 
trade. They derive their principal importance from the fact that 
they were the only outposts of the French government in this 
country before the English conquest, and, consequently, the thea- 
tres of the most interesting frontier operations. 

About three years after Detroit was founded, the Ottawa Indians 
in that vicinity were invited to Albany, in New York, upon what 
was supposed to be a friendly visit. As St. Joseph was surrounded 
by villages of the Hurons, Pottawatomies, and Miamis, so also 
was Detroit, at that time, guarded by parts of the friendly tribes 
of the Hurons and Pottawatomies near the settlements, and an 
Ottawa village had been erected on the opposite bank of the river. 
It would appear that while the Ottawas were in Albany, they had 
been persuaded by the English, who even then wished to obtain 
possession of the post of their rivals, that it was the design of the 
French to wrest the dominion of the country from their hands ; 
and they accordingly set fire to the town, but without success, as 
the fire was soon extinguished. At this time, also, groups of sav- 
ages of the same tribe, having miide a successful expedition against 
their enemies the Iroquois, and warm with victory, were seen 
parading in hostile array in front of the fort ; but M. Tonti, who 
was the commandant of the post, despatching the Sieur de Vin- 

tions at Vicksburg, Miss., and afterwards in building a military railroad 
from Brazos Harbor to Brownsville, Texas, with a shell bridge across the 
Boca Chica. At the close of the war he was elected Professor of Civil 
Engineering in the University of Chicago, which position he still retains, 
with occasional leave of absence for engineering purposes. In 1866 he 
made a survey and the estimates for a ship canal from Lake Michigan to 
the Mississippi river. In 1867 he was on the location of the Chicago, 
Rock Island & Pacific R. R., and the location of the bridge at Omaha, 
Nebraska. In February, 1868, he went on the Union Pacific R. R., 
and located nearly all that part of it from the North Platte river to the 
Humboldt Wells, and in the winter and spring of 1868 and 1869 he ran 
the preliminary surveys for a railroad from the north end of Salt Lake, 
through Idaho and Oregon, to Portland, Oregon, and Puget Sound. 
Afterwards he was engaged as civil engineer on the St. Paul & Chicago 



116 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

cennes against them, he dispersed their bands, and rescued the 
Iroquois prisoners whom they left behind them in their flight. 

The progress of operation on the lake shores Avas not at this 
period marked with any very great interest, as the settlements 
were few ; but they reflect, nevertheless, the spirit which prevailed 
in France during their continuance. The lands lay sleeping in 
their original silence and solitude, undisturbed by the plow. 
Occasionally the settlers may have been surprised by their ancient 
enemies the Iroquois, but the appearance of parts of these nations 
excited only a surprise which soon settled down into peace. But 
in 1712, the Ottagamies or Foxes, who had been before but little 
known, but who were probably in secret alliance with the Iroquois, 
projected a plan for the destruction of Detroit. They made their 
arrangements in secret, and sent their bauds to collect around the 
new French settlement, which was then garrisoned by a force of 
twenty soldiers, of whom M. Du Buisson was the commandant. 
The occupants of the three French villages of Indians, the Otta- 
was, Pottawatomies, and Hurons, were then absent on a hunting 
excursion. A converted Indian, however, under the influence of 
a Jesuit missionary, disclosed their plot before it was ripe for exe- 
cution, and Du Buisson immediately sent dispatches through the 
forest to call in the aid of the friendly Indians, and prepare for an 
efiective defense. 

On the 13th of May of that year, the Foxes made their onset 
upon Detroit with fiendish yells. No sooner, however, was the 

R. R., with headquarters at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Later he was Chief 
Engineer of the Grand Rapids & Indiana R. R., in the employ of the 
Continental Improvement Company. In 1871 he went to the South in 
the employ of a company of wliich Gen. George W. Cass was president, 
and has been engaged in various railroad projects in that section ever 
since. His present headquarters are at Greenville, S. C, but his perma- 
nent residence is at Big Rapids, Michigan. 

Gen. Hudnut is a very eminent locating engineer, having within the 
last twenty years located thousands of miles of railroad most skillfully. 

He married Miss Marcia Webster, at Lima, N. Y., October 23, 1851. 
He has had two children, viz: Edward Webster Hudnut, born December 
15, 1852, and Byron Murray Hudnut, born March 21, 1858 ; died June 
21, 1860. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



117 



attack commenced, than portions of the friendly Indians were seen 
through the wilderness, painted for battle as is their custom, and 
the gates of the fort were opened to receive them, A consultation 
was now held at the council house, and they renewed their league 




HON. J. W. BEGOLE. 

JosiAH W. Begole, the present Representative in Congress from the 
Sixth District of Micliigan, was born in tlie town of Groveland, Livings- 
ton county, New York, on the 20th of January, 1815. His younger days 
were spent on a farm, where he received that physical training and cul- 
ture which contributed largely to his health and prosperity in after years. 
Mr. Begole received a common school and academic education in his 
native State, and emigrated to Michigan in 1836, settling in the then town 
of Flint, where he still resides. 



118 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

with Du Buisson, and expressed their determination, if necessary, 
to die in the defense of the post. On the arrival of the friendly 
Indians, the Foxes retreated to the forest which now adjoins the 
eastern boundary of Detroit, and intrenched themselves in their 
camp. 

The French then sallied out from the fort, and, backed by their 
savage allies, erected a block-house in front of their camp, in 
order to force the enemy from their position. Here the latter 
were closely besieged ; being cut off from their supply of water, 
and driven to desperation by thirst and famine, they in turn 
rushed out from their strongholds upon the French and the 
friendly Indians, and succeeded in getting possession of a house 
near the village. This house they fortified, but they were here 
attacked by the French cannon, and di'iven back to their former 
intrenchmeut. 

Finding that their attack was likely to prove uusuccessful, the 
Foxes now sent despatches to the French commandant asking for 
peace, which was denied them. Upon this they considered them- 
selves insulted, and, burning with revenge, they discharged showers 
of blazing arrows upon the fort. The lighted matches they had 
affixed to their arrows coming in contact with the dry roofs of the 
houses, kindled them into flame, when the precaution was taken 
to cover the rest with wet skins, and by this means they were pre- 
served. The desperation of the Foxes almost discoui-aged the 
French commandant, and he had nearly determined to evacuate 

Mr. Begole's first official position was that of school inspector for the 
township of Genesee, which office he held from 1842 to 1844 inclusive. 
He was promoted to the office of township clerk in 1845. From 1846 to 
1853 he was an active justice of the peace, doing most of the business for 
his own and three or four adjoining towns, never trying a case where he 
could prevail upon the parties to settle it. In 1854 and 1855 he held the 
office of supervisor in the same town. Performing the duties of these 
minor offices in a thorough and systematic manner, his townsmen saw 
fit to reward his services, in 1856, by electing him county treasurer of 
Genesee county, to which position he was reelected three times, holding 
the office eight consecutive j-ears. 

He, although constantly engaged in other business, has ever been a 
practical and successful farmer, devoting considerable time to bringing 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 119 

Detroit, and to retire to Michilimackinac, when his Indian allies 
promised to redouble their efforts for his defense ; and the war- 
songs and dances of their bands, heard through the solitude of the 
forest, assured him that a more desperate effort was about to be 
made in his behalf. The preparations having been finished, the 
French and Indians advanced upon the Foxes with more deter- 
mined courage, and, pouring upon their intrenchments a deadly 
fire, they were soon filled with the dying and the dead. Once 
more the Foxes demanded peace. Before any capitulation, how- 
ever, was completed, the enemy retreated towards Lake St. Clair, 
during a storm at midnight, on the nineteenth day of the siege. 

The French and their Indian allies, as soon as they discovered 
their flight, prepared for a pursuit, and soon came upon their 
camps. An action began, which at the outset was in favor of the 
Foxes, the French and Indians being repulsed. But a different 
plan of operation was soon after adopted, and with better success. 
At the end of three days a field battery was completed, and the 
intrenchment of the Foxes fell before the French cannon. 

The Foxes may l)e considered the Ishmaelites of the wilderness, 
for they were at enmity with all the tribes on the lakes. They 
collected their forces on the Fox River of Green Bay, where they 
commanded the territory between the lakes and the Mississippi, so 
that it was dangerous for travelers to pass through that region 
except in large bodies, and armed, while their warriors were sent 
out to seek objects of plunder and devastation. So great was the 

that great branch of our industry as near perfection as possible. In 1865 
he commenced his career as a lumberman in the vast pine forests of our 
State, and has ever met an enviable success in this occupation, in whicli 
he is still heavily engaged. 

In 1869 he was again called upon to fill an important political position, 
being elected State Senator from his Senatorial District, the duties of 
which office he performed much to the satisfaction of his constituents. 
He was chosen a delegate to the National Republican Convention, which 
met in Philadelphia during the summer of 1873, and nominated General 
Grant for President the second time. In the fall of the same year he was 
nominated by his party for Representative in Congress from the Sixth 
District of this State, to which position he was elected bj a large 
majority. 



120 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

danger apprehended by the missionaries and traders in passing 
through that territory, as well as by the French settlers, and so 
great the injury already done by those tribes, that an expedition 
was fitted out against them by the French, backed by their Indian 
allies, who were rankling under a sense of repeated wrongs. This 
warlike nation had stationed itself on the banks of the Fox River, 
at a place then and now called by the French Butte des Morts, or 
the Hill of the Dead, defending their position by a ditch and three 
courses of palisades. Here they collected their women and chil- 
dren, and prepared for a desperate resistance. M. de Louvigny, 
the commandant of the expedition, perceiving the strength of 
their works, determined not to expose his men by a direct attack, 
but entered upon a regular siege, and was preparing for the final 
crisis when the Foxes proposed a capitulation. This was accepted ; 
and the pride of the Foxes being thus humbled, they sank into 
obscurity during the remainder of the French war. 

Thus it is seen that, although the few French forts upon the 
lakes were rudely constructed, and but poorly adapted to make a 
serious and effective defense, they were nevertheless competent, 
with their small garrisons, to protect the emigrants against the 
disaffected tribes which were from time to time arrayed against 
them. The pickets which surrounded them, composed of upright 
stakes, furnished a line of concealment rather than strong bul- 
warks, and, together with the light cannon with which they were 
mounted, enabled the French to suppress the disturbances that 
occasionally sprang up around their posts. 

The early missionaries and French travelers who journeyed 
through the region of the lakes exhibit a peculiar form of char- 
acter. Tinctured with the spirit which prevailed in France at the 
period of their immigration, the novel scenes around them 
impressed them with those sentiments of romance so peculiar to 
the French. They show the spirit under which the missionaries 
and soldiers traveled, and the eloquence with which the scenes 
around them tended to inspire their minds. 

The forests amid which their lot was cast were calculated to fill 
them with wonder and admiration. A vast chain of inland seas, 
which appeared to them like oceans, stretched a watery horizon 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 121 

along the borders of the wilderness. Flocks of water fowl of 
varied plumage streamed along the shores of the lakes, and the 
waters swarmed with fish. The face of nature, fresh in the luxu- 
riance of a virgin soil, was everywhere clothed with magnificent 
vegetation. Did they travel through the Indian trails or bridle 
paths which wound through the forest, extensive tracts of oak- 
lauds, that seemed like cultivated parks, met their eye, studded 
with little crystal lakes and streams, and covered with flowers. 
Herds of buffaloes wandered over the prairies, trampling down 
the flowers which blushed in their track as they rushed on in 
clumsy motion. Great numbers of moose and elk, which in the 
size of their horns almost rivaled the branches of the trees, 
bounded through the thickets. Deer were here and there seen 
feeding upon the margin of the water courses. Flocks of wild 
turkeys and other game filled the woods ; the jDrairies were alive 
with grouse, and pigeons swept along like clouds above the forests, 
in numbers which sometimes almost obscured the sky. 

Beyond this, they beheld in the luxuriance of the soil the source 
of inexhaustible wealth. Rich clusters of grapes hung from the 
trees, which reminded them of the champagne districts of France, 
from which they had emigrated, and apples and plums abounded 
in thrifty groves. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Colonial Emigkakts— Merchants — The Peasantry — French Sol- 
diers — Legal Administration — Policy op the French Govern- 
ment — Mode of Land Distribution. 

Owing to the frequent changes in the government of the west- 
ern outposts of Canada, as well as to the fact that, at various 
periods in its early history, it was entirely withdrawn, consequent 
either upon some freak of colonial policy in France, or resulting 
from difficulties with the savages, it is quite as impracticable to 
attem})t a connected history of these settlements as it is impossible 
to detail- all the trials and hai'dships endured or overcome by the 
colonists. The history of the French settlements in Michigan, 
during that period in which France held possession of the terri- 
tory, is a record of constant changes, authenticated only by the 
" Jesuit relations," and this being rather a diary of church mat- 
ters than a journal of political events, throws but a faint light 
upon tliose greater circumstances which the modern world calls 
histfu-y. Yet, after all, we are not left without a general history 
of the first settlements of Michigan. 

The })osts were inhabited by a hardy race of people, who had 
emigrated principally from Brittany and Normandy, provinces of 
France. They were mostly working men, drawn from the more 
dense settlements round Montreal and Quebec, and were sent out 
by the government for the purpose of building up the posts, and 
of protecting the fur trade carried on through the chain of the 
great lakes. The population of the posts consisted of the military 
by which they were garrisoned, Jesuits, priests, merchants, traders 
and peasants. These, however, were moved from place to place, 
as the interests of the government seemed to require. 

The French commandants were the most prominent individuals 
of the posts, and, with their garrisons, constituted a little mon- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



123 



archy. Their power was arbitrary, extending to the right of doing 
whatever they might deem expedient for the welfare of the settle- 
ment, whether in making laws or punishing crime. The oldest 
merchants were reverenced as the head men of their colony. 




HON. JAMES WATSON. 

James Watson, of Bay City, was born in Detroit, September 2, 1814. 
He removed to his present place of residence, then called Lower Saginaw, 
in 1850. He carried on a mercantile business successfully for several 
years; then he turned his attention, with even greater protit, to lumber- 
ing, and continued in that business until 1870. He has been, and now 
is, one of the solid men of Bay City. He has contributed largely to its 
rapid growth by investing liberally in local improvements. He erected 
and now owns a model brick block, known as the "Watson Block," 



124 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

They were careful and frugal in their habits, and exercised an 
influence among the settlers calculated to secure a willing obedience. 

Mr. Lanman, in his history of Michigan, states that the early 
French settlers were wanting in virtue, and " often fostered a large 
number of half-breed children around their posts, who were the 
offspring of their licentiousness." To a careful reader of our early 
history this statement, or charge, seems to be entirely unsupported 
by truth. It would have appeared more reasonable, and less at 
variance with the facts, had Mr, Lanman attributed the existence 
of this race of half-breeds to the want of rigid virtue among the 
soldiers and the rangers of the woods. 

This peculiar class, no doubt engendered by the manner in 
which the fur trade was conducted, were properly called bush- 
rangers, or coureurs des hois, half-civilized vagrants, whose chief 
vocation was conducting the canoe of the traders along the lakes 
and rivers of the interior. Many of them, however, shaking 
loose every tie of blood and kindred, identified themselves with 
the Indians, and sank into utter barbarism. " In many a squalid 
camp," says Parkman, " among the plains and forests of the 
West, the traveler would have encountered men owning the blood 
and speaking the language of France, yet, in their swarthy vis- 
ages and barbarous costume, seeming more akin to those with 
whom they had cast their lot. The renegade of civilization 
caught the habits and imbibed the prejudices of his chosen asso- 
ciates. He loved to decorate his long hair with eagle feathers, to 
make his face hideous with vermilion, ochre and soot, and to adorn 
his greasy hunting frock with horse-hair fringe." 

His dwelling, if he had one, was a wigwam. He lounged on a 
bear skin while his squaw boiled his venison and lighted his pipe. 
In hunting, in dancing, in singing, in taking a scalp, he rivaled 
the genuine Indian. His mind was tinctured with the supersti- 
tions of the forest. He had faith in the magic drum of the con- 

which is an ornament to the city. He has reared a large family, and is a 
gentleman of fine presence, kind and affable, and wields a large influence 
socially and politically. He has been twice elected county treasurer, 
twice mayor of Bay City, has held the office of president of the Board of 
Education, and served as president of the Bay City Temperance Society. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



125 



juror. He was not sure that a thunder cloud could not be 
frightened away by whistling at it through the wing-bone of an 
eagle ; he carried the tail of a rattlesnake in his bullet-pouch, by 
way of amulet, and he placed implicit trust in his dreams. 




HON. PETER DESNOYERS. 

Peter Desnoyers, one of the most prominent men of Michigan during 
its early history, was born in Detroit, Michigan, April 2lst, 1800. His 
father, Peter J. Desnoyers, was born in tlie city of Paris, France, in 1772, 
came to America in 1790, and married Miss Marie Gobiel, of Detroit, 
Mich. He lived in Galliopolis a number of years, and afterwards in Pitts- 
burg, from which place he removed to Detroit with the army of "Mad 
Anthony" Wayne, in August, 1796, where he resided until his death, 
which occurred in 1846. He was one of the leading mei'chants and citi- 



126 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Tlie peasants, or that class of lake settlers who subsisted by 
agricultural pursuits, within the narrow circle of their picket 
fences, were not numerous. Their dress was peculiar, and even 
wild. They wore surtouts of coarse blue cloth, fastened at the 
middle with a red sash, a scarlet woolen cap, containing a scalping 
knife, and moccasins made of deer-skin. Civilization was here 
strangely mingled. Groups of Indians from the remotest shores 
of the lakes, wild in their garb, would occasionally make their 
appearance at the settlements with numerous canoes laden with 
beaver skins, which they had brought down to these places of 
deposit. Among them were intermixed the French soldiers of the 
garrisou, with their blue coats turned up with white facings, and 
the Jesuits, with their long gowns and black bands, from which 
were suspended by silver chains the rosary and crucifix, who, 
" with the priests, had their stations round the forts and ministered 
in the chapels." 

Agriculture was not extensively encouraged by the policy of the 
fur trade or the character of the population. It was confined to 
a few 2:)atches of Indian corn and wheat, which they rudely culti- 
vated. They ground their grain in wind-mills, which were scat- 
tered along the banks of the Detroit river and the 8t. Clair lake. 
The recreations of the French colonists consisted in attending the 
religious services held in the rude chapels on the borders of the 

zens of Detroit during his day, and his death was mourned by a large 
circle of friends and acquaintances. 

Mr. Desnoyers, the subject of this sketch, was in Detroit attending 
school when the great fire of 1805 broke out, which entirely destroyed 
the town, leaving the inhabitants houseless, and in a very destitute con- 
dition. He commenced business as a merchant in 1831, having just 
attained his majority, and was eminent)}' successful in this occupation. 

He was the first county treasurer of Wayne county elected by the 
popular vote, which occurred in 182(5. At the next election he was 
reelected to the same office. In 1827 he was chosen one of the aldermen 
of the city of Detroit, and he also served some time in this position after 
the division of the city into wards, representing the fourth ward in the 
council. 

In 1831 Mr. Desnoj^ers was appointed United States Marshal by Presi- 
dent Jackson, which position he held until the organization of the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 127 

wilderness, in adorning their altars with wild flowers, in dancing 
to the sound of the violin at each other's houses, in hunting the 
deer, and in paddling their light canoes across the clear and silent 
streams. The women employed themselves iu making coarse cot- 
ton and woollen cloths for the Indian trade. In their cottages 
were hung rude pictures of saints, the Madonna and child, and 
the leaden crucifix supplied the place of one of silver. Abundance 
of game roamed in the woods, and the waters were alive with fish. 

The Jesuits, who were the most active agents of the government 
in the exploration of these regions, were, as a class, men of high 
intelligence. The narratives of their wanderings through the 
wilderness throw a coloring of I'omance around the prairies, and 
forests and lakes, which amounts almost to a classic spirit. Yet 
they have left upon the lake shores but few monuments either of 
their enterprise or Christian zeal. Their success in Christianizing 
the Indians was limited when compared with the extent of their 
labors. By the savages these Catholic missionaries were regarded 
as medicine men and jugglers, on whom the destiny of life and 
death depended; and although they were greatly feared, they 
succeeded in making but few converts to their religious faith, 
excepting young children, or Indians just about to die. 

The administration of the law iu the western outposts was 
founded, as far as possible, on the contume de Paris, which was 

Territory into a State in 1837. He was appointed city treasurer of 
Detroit in 1838, and promoted to State treasurer in 1839 by Governor 
Stevens T. Mason. He served in the latter position until the commence- 
ment of Governor Woodbridge's term, bringing great credit to himself 
as a shrewd tinancier, and guarding tlie State moneys in an honorable 
and trustworthy manner. In 1843 he was again elected county treasurer 
of Wayne county, and again in 1851. 

Mr. Desuoyers removed from Detroit to Hamtramck in 1849, and still 
resides in the latter place. 

In 1850 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, 
which met in Lansing during that year and framed our present State 
Constitution. He was also a member of the State Constitutional Con- 
vention of 1867, which closed his public career. At present he is living 
at Hamtramck in a very retired and quiet manner, enjoying the comforts 
of an active and prosperous life. 



128 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

the law of all Canada. This code, although received and prac- 
ticed upon in the older and more populous settlements of the 
lower province, was not adopted with any degree of uniformity 
among these distant colonists. The commandants or governors of 
the posts had the principal cognizance of the population around 
them, and exercised their authority in an arbitrary manner. 
There was at this time no system of education like that which 
prevailed in New England, and all the knowledge acquired by 
the children of the colonists was obtained from the priests. 

The jDlan of distributing the land was calculated to prevent the 
settlement of the country. A law was passed recj^uiring the houses 
of the inhabitants to be placed upon ground with a front of only 
one acre and a half, and running forty acres back. This kept the 
settlements in a close line along the banks of the streams. A 
feudal and aristocratic spirit also controlled the grants of land. 
The commandants of the forts had the power to convey lands, 
with the permission of the Governor-General of Canada, subject 
to the confirmation of the King of France, special rights being 
reserved to the grantor. 

I As early as 1749, the post of Detroit and the others upon the 
northwestern lakes, Michilimackinac, Ste. Marie, and St. Joseph, 
received an accession of immigrants. The last two were called 
after the saints of those names in the Catholic calendar. Michili- 
mackinac derives its name from the Indian words Michi-mackinac, 
meaning a great turtle, from its supposed resemblance to that 
animal, or from the Chippewa words Michine-maukinouk, signif\'- 
ing the place of giant fairies, who were supposed by Indian 
superstition to hover over the waters around that beautiful island. 
The origin of the word Detroit is the French word Detroit, signify- 
ing a strait, because the post was situated on the strait connecting 
Lake Erie with Lake St. Clair. 

During the whole period of the French domination, extending 
from the first settlement of the country down to the year 1760, 
the trafiic of Michigan was confined principally to the trade in 
furs. This interesting traflac upon the great lakes was carried on 
by the French under peculiar circumstances. As the forests of 
the lake region abounded with furs which were of great value in 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



129 



the mother country, it became an important object with the Cana- 
dian government to prosecute that trade with all the energy in its 
power. The rich furs of the beaver and otter were particularly 
valuable, from the [great demand for them in Europe. Large 




CAPT. JOHN CLARKE. 

John Clarke, of St. Clair, one of the pioneers of Michigan, was born 
at Bath, Maine, July 29, 1797. In 1812 he went to Augusta, Maine, and 
accepted a situation in the mercantile establishment of T. Sargent, Esq. , 
but he, through ill health, was soon compelled to give up this position 
and return to his home. Peace being declared between Great Britain 
and the United States, his physicians advised him to make a trip to 
Europe, and in April, 1815, he sailed for Bremen. After traveling 
through Germany, England and Scotland, and witnessing the great 
9 



130 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

canoes made of bark, and strongly constructed, were despatched 
annually to the lakes laden with packs of European merchandise, 
consisting of blankets, printed calicoes, ribbons, cutlery, and 
trinkets of various kinds, which the Indians used; and Detroit, 
Michilimackinac and Ste. Marie, were their principal places of 
deposit. 

To secure the interests of the large companies, licenses for this 
trade were granted by the Governor-General of Canada to the mer- 
chants, who sometimes sold them to the coureurs des hois. The 
possessor of one of these licenses was entitled to load two large 
canoes, each of which was manned by six men. The cargo of 
one of these canoes was valued at about a thousand crowns. This 
merchandise was sold to the traders on credit, and at about fifteen 
per cent advance on the price it would command in ready money. 
But the voyages were very profitable, and there was generally a 
gain of about one hundred per cent on the sum invested in the 

I'ejoiciugs iu those countries over the defeat and capture of Napoleon 
Bonaparte at Waterloo, he embafked from Liverpool with his uncle, Capt. 
F. Clarke, in the ship Ellington, for Boston. When about in mid-ocean, 
and during a severe gale, the vessel foundered, and the passengers and 
crew were obliged to take to the small boats. After remaining in these 
for three daj^s, they were picked up by a dismasted brig from Scotland. 
At the expiration of three more days, the " James Madison," from Phila- 
delphia, came to their relief, and putting them on a short allowance of 
food, in order to make it last, brought them in safety to Philadelphia, 
after a lapse of thirty -two days. Upon arriving in the latter city, Mr. 
Clarke was unable to find his uncle (who, to gain time, had taken a 
steamer as soon as they entered the river), and having no money, wan- 
dered around for three days without food. His condition becoming 
known, he was assisted by the kind hearted citizens, and his uncle, who 
had preceded him by steamer, finding him, gave him money with which 
to reach his home. 

Arriving there, he received a clerkship in a store, and after serving in 
this position for a short time, he accepted of a similar one in the whole- 
sale house of Page & Gitchell, iu Hallowell, in 1817, receiving the 
highest salary paid for similar labors, which was only seventy-five dollars 
per year. 

Mr. Clarke here united with the Baptist Church, of which he is still a^ 
member, and at once took a deep interest in Sabbath schools. He still 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 131 

enterprise. The traders endured most of the fatigue, and the mer- 
chants received most of the profit. On the return of one of these 
expeditions, six hundred crowns were taken by the merchant for 
his license, and as he had sold the thousand crowns' worth of 
goods at their prime cost, from this sum he also deducted forty 
per cent for bottomry; the remainder was then divided among 
the six coureurs des hois, who were thus left with but a small 
compensation for all their perils and hardships. 

The coureurs des hois were the native agents of the fur trade. 
Thoroughly acquainted Avith the navigation of the lakes, they 
fearlessly swept along the waters of these inland seas, encamping 
at night upon their shores. Of mixed white and Indian blood, they 
formed the connecting link between civilization and barbarism. 
Their dress was also demi-savage. Lively and sanguine, they 
were at all times ready to join the Indians in the dance, or pay 
respect to their ceremonies. Their French fathers had familiarly 

retains his activity in this class of labors, although he has reached the 
advanced age of seventy-six years. 

In 1818 he removed to Belfast, and engaged in the mercantile business, 
with more than average prosperity. He married Miss Mary Sherbun, of 
Hallowell, in December, 1819. 

Upon attaining his majority he espoused the principles of the Jefferson 
republican party, and gave his support to the administrations of Madison 
and Monroe, and worked faithfully for the election of General Jackson 
during the following presidential campaign, which resulted in the elec- 
tion of John Quincy Adams by the House of Representatives. Although 
he resolutely refused to accept any political position, he undertook many 
difficult tasks for his party, and performed his work in a manner to elicit 
the highest praise from the then Governor of Maine, and other prominent 
officials. 

His health again failing him, he closed his business in Belfast, with the 
intention of coming to Michigan, but his friends prevailed upon him to 
return to Hallowell, where he took an active part in all political issues. 

In 1829 Mr. Clarke was called to Washington on business, and while 
there was received by President Jackson in the kindest manner, and an 
intimate friendship soon sprung up between them. 

He came to Michigan in 1830, arriving at Detroit in October of that 
year, and in the following December opened a mercantile establishment 
on Woodward avenue, two doors from Jefferson avenue, in a building 



132 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

associated with the native tribes, and their mothers and wives 
were the inmates of Indian camps. In many respects their char- 
acter resembled that of mariners upon the ocean, for the same 
general cause might be said to operate upon both. Instead of 
navigating the high seas in ships tossed by storms, and ploughing 
the waves from port to port, it was their lot to propel their light 
canoes over the fresh water seas of the forest, where, hurried from 
one Indian village to another, like the mariner on the ocean, they 
acquired all those habits which belong to an unsettled and wan- 
dering life. 

Advancing to the remote shores of Lake Superior or Lake 
Michigan, and following the courses of the rivers which flow into 
them, as soon as they reached the points where the Indians were 
in the habit of resorting, they at once encamped. Here they 
opened their packages of goods, exhibited them to their savage 
customers and exchanged them for furs ; and having disposed of 

owned by Robert Smart, Esq. In the fall of 1833 lie purchased a large 
tract of land on the St. Clair river, where he now resides, and in the fol- 
lowing spring removed to where the city of Port Huron now stands, and 
at which place there were then only three frame buildings. He took 
charge of the steamer Gen. Gratiot about this time, and sailed her on the 
route from Port Huron to Toledo. In 1835 he removed to his present 
residence, in the town of China, a few miles below the city of St. Clair, 
on the river of that name. 

He was one of the delegates chosen from St. Clair county to the State 
convention for the framing of a State Constitution, which met in Detroit 
on the 11th of May, 1835. As a member of this important body he per- 
formed much good work, and his actions won him many influential 
friends. 

Pending the admission of Michigan into the Union, at the request of a 
number of the influential men of the Territory he visited Washington, 
and upon arriving there found the objectionable bill had passed the very 
day he had started. He presented the facts in the case to President 
Jackson, and that official expressed his regrets that Mr. Clarke had not 
arrived sooner, as he would not have signed the bill had the matter been 
fully explained to him before. During his stay at the capitol, the Gov- 
ernor of his Territory and other prominent men arrived in Washington. 
These gentlemen called upon the President, in the presence of the Secre- 
tary of State, and after some discussion upon the admission of the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 133 

all their merchandise, and loaded their canoes with the peltries it 
had jDrocured, they bade adieu to their Indian friends, and started 
on their voyage back, with feathers stuck in their hats, keeping 
time with their paddles to the Canadian boat songs. 

La Hontan, in his Journal, which was published in France, and 
a translation of which was afterwards published in this country, 
gives an interesting account of the fur trade, showing the general 
course of that traffic while the Canadas were under the French. 
The author resided at Montreal. At this time (1688) Michili- 
mackinac was the principal stopping place for the traders on their 
way fi'om Montreal and Detroit to the forests bordering on Lake 
Superior. Here their goods were deposited, and here the furs 
were collected for their return freight. Sometimes, however, the 
traders, accompanied by numerous canoes of the Ottawas, would 
proceed directly to the older settlements on the St. Lawrence, 



Territory, President Jackson made this statement to them : "You have 
no influence with the Cabinet. We look to Mr. Clarlie for all the infor- 
mation we desire. We know him, and have the fullest confidence in 
him." The Secretary of State, meeting Mr. Clarke afterwards, informed 
him that he had but to mention what he desired in the gift of the Presi- 
dent, and he should receive it. Mr. Clarke, however, declined accepting 
any oflBce. 

At the first election under the State Constitution, he having received 
the nomination of both parties, was elected State Senator for the Fifth 
Senatorial District without an opposing vote, and to which position he 
was reelected at the following election. Every effort was made by his 
friends at this time for permission to place his name before the Legisla- 
ture as a candidate for the United States Senate, but he would not 
consent. 

In 1837, President Jackson appointed him one of two commission- 
ers to acquire the title of the Indians to the lands they claimed in 
Michigan, which duty he performed in a very satisfactory manner. 

Afterwards he received the appointment of Receiver of the Land Office 
at Ionia, from President Van Buren, with whom he had been acquainted 
from 1829. Mr. Clarke declined to accept this position. 

He was a member of the State Convention of 1850, for the revision of 
the State Constitution, and took a prominent part in the deliberations of 
tliat body. 

With the nomination of James Buchanan for the presidency by the 



134 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

where they supposed they might be able to dispose of their car- 
goes to greater advantage than at the interior posts. 

The following is La Hontan's account of the fur trade at the 
period referred to : 

" Much about the same day," says he, " there arrived twenty- 
five or thirty canoes, being homeward bound from the great lakes, 
and laden with beaver skins. The cargo of each canoe amounted 
to forty packs, each of which weighs fifty pounds, and will fetch 
fifty crowns at the farmer's office. These canoes were followed by 
fifty more of the Ottawas and Hurons, who come down every year 
to the colony in order to make a better market than they can do 
in their own country of Michilimackinac, which lies on the banks 
of the Lake of Hurons, at the mouth of tlie Lake of Illinese 
(Michigan). Their way of trading is as follows: 

" Upon their arrival they encamp at a distance of five or six 
hundred paces from the town. The first day is spent in ranging 

Democrats, Mr. Clarke left that party, and gave his support to General 
Fremont, whom he claimed represented the true principles of Jefferson 
and his associates. 

In 1857 Mr. Clarke was again elected to the State Legislature, and dur- 
ing its session exerted great influence in securing the passage of good 
laws, and the defeat of those he considered would be injurious to the 
State. At this session he used his entire influence, and no doubt aided 
materially in the election of the Hon. Zachariah Chandler to the United 
States Senate. 

Mr. Clarke is a very prominent and influential Free Mason, having 
united with this order at Belfast, Maine, as early as 1820. Upon being 
admitted he strove to advance and learn its great principles, and traveled 
a distance of over fifty miles to receive the Chapter degrees. Upon its 
revival after the Morgan aflair, he took an active part in perpetuating its 
existence and principles. He was elected E. C. of the John Clarke Com- 
mandery, of St. Clair, and was afterwards elected to the same position in 
the Port Huron Commandery. From their establishment until the pres- 
ent time, over sixteen years, he has not been absent from a meeting of 
either of these bodies. Mr. Clarke has conferred more knightly orders 
than any other E. C. in the State. He was elected R. E. G. C. of Michi- 
gan, and appointed V. E. 6. C. G. by the Hon. B. B. French, M. E. G. M. 
of the G. G. E. of the United States. He is known throughout the 
Union as a prominent Free Mason, and has received a number of valu- 
able presents from the fraternity. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 135 

their canoes, unloading their goods, and pitching their tents, which 
are made of birch bark. The next day they demand audience of 
the Governor-General, which is granted them that same day, in a 
public place. 




HON. JOHN R. KELLOG. 

John R. Kellog, a prominent man in Michigan during the time of 
Lewis Cass, was born at New Hartford, Oneida county, New York, in 
1793. His fatlier was one of the hardy pioneers of the New England 
States, the farm upon which he resided in New Hartford, being pur- 
cliased from George Washington and George Clinton. The original con- 
tract of this purchase is still in existence and is now in the possession of 
A. J. Kellog, the youngest son of the subject of this sketch, who resides 
in Allegan, Michigan. 

When he was six years of age, the parents of Mr. John R. Kellog 



136 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

" Upon this occasion each nation makes a ring foi' itself. The 
savages sit upon the ground, with pipes in their mouths, and the 
governor is seated in an arm-chair ; after which there starts up an 
orator or speaker from one of these nations, w^ho makes a 
harangue, importing that his brethren are come to visit the Gov- 
ernor-General, to renew with him their wonted friendship ; that 
their chief view is to promote the interest of the French, some of 
w^hom, being unacquainted with the way of traffic, and being too 
weak for the transporting of goods from the lakes, would be una- 
ble to deal in beaver-skins if his brethren did not come in person 
to deal with them in their own colonies. That they knew very 
well how acceptable their arrival is to the inhabitants of Mon- 
treal, in regard to the advantage they reap from it ; that, in 
regard to the beavei'-skins, they W(;re much valued in France, and 
the French goods given in exchange w'ere of an inconsiderable 
value ; and that they mean to give the French sufficient proof of 
their readiness to furnish them with what they desire so earnestly. 

" That, by way of preparation of another year's cargo, they are 
come to take in exchange fusees, and powder and ball, in order to 
hunt great numbers of beavers, or to gall the Iroquois in case 
they offered to disturb the French settlements; and, in fine, in 

removed from New Hartford to Skaneateles, New York, taking him 
along with them. At tlie age of thirteen he went to Lowville, New York, 
as a clerk for Messrs. Leonard, in which occupation he remained until 
he was twenty-two years of age. From here he went to New York city 
as a clerk for John Glover, Esq. While in this city he united with the 
Presbyterian Church, Dr. John M. Mason, pastor, and lived an earnest 
and faithful christian tlie remainder of his life. 

In 1817 he married Miss Mary Otterson, of New York, a young lady 
highly respected for her many good qualities, who still survives him. 

From this city with his wife and two children he returned to New 
Hartford in 1817, remaining one year, when lie again removed and set- 
tled in Marcellus, Onondaga county. New York. Here he retained his 
residence until 1836, being engaged in mercantile pursuits. In this year 
he emigrated to Michigan and served in the Legislature of the State dur- 
ing the winter of 1837-38. In the latter year lie settled in Allegan, Alle- 
gan county, Michigan, wliere he resided until his deatli, wliich occurred 
in 1868. 

Mr. Kellog was a member of the State Board of Education for six 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 137 

confirmation of their words, that they throw a porcelain collar 
(belt of wampum), with some beaver-skins, to the kitchi-okima 
(so they call the Governor-General), whose protection they laid 
claim to in case of any robbery or abuse committed upon them in 
the town. The spokesman having made an end of his speech, 
returns to his place and takes up his pipe, and the interpreter 
explains the substance of the harangue to the Governor, who 
commonly gives a very civil answer, especially if the presents be 
valuable, in consideration of which he likewise makes them a 
present of some trifling things. This done, the savages rise up 
and return to their huts, to make suitable preparation for the 
ensuing truck. 

" The next day the savages make their slaves carry the skins to 
the houses of the merchants, who bargain with them for such 
clothes as they want. All the inhabitants of Montreal are 
allowed to trafiic with them in any commodity but rum and 
brandy, these two being excepted upon the account that, when the 
savages have got what they want, and have any skins left, they 
drink to excess, and then kill their slaves ; for, when they are 
in drink, they quarrel and fight, and, if they were not held by 
those who are sober, would certainly make havoc one of another. 

years, and while in this position he did much for the advancement of 
education, and to him in a great measure are we indebted for the liigh 
position wliicli Michigan occupies to-day when compared with lier sister 
States in an educational point of view. 

He was associate judge of Allegan county two years, during the judi- 
cial term of .Judge Ransom, and performed the responsible duties of that 
position in a manner that elicited the highest praise from that distin- 
guished gentleman. 

He was one of the main movers in his section of the State in organiz- 
ing the association and raising the necessary funds for the erection of 
the Soldiers and Sailors' monument which now beautifies the Campus 
Martius in the City of Detroit. 

Mr. Kellog's public history is well known throughout the State, as he 
occupied an enviable position during his life in all matters of importance 
concerning the government of the State and its welfare and prosperity. 
He was an intimate friend of Secretary Seward and General Cass, 
and maintained a friendly correspondence with them until separated by 
death. 



138 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

" However, you must observe that none of them will touch 
either gold or silver. As soon as the savages have made an end of 
their truck, they take leave of the Governor, and return home 
by the River Ottawa. To conclude, they do a great deal of good, 
both to the poor and rich, for you will readily apprehend that 
everybody turns merchant upon such occasions." 

To the question Avhat was the condition of the Northwestern 
Territory when it was claimed and occupied by France, we can 
furnish a ready answer. It was a vast ranging ground for the 
numerous Indian tribes, who roamed over it in all the listless indo- 
lence of their savage independence ; of the Jesuit missionaries, 
who, under the garb of their religious orders, strove to gain the 
influence of the red men in behalf of their government as well as 
their church, by their conversion to the Catholic faith ; the theatre 
of the most important military operations of the French soldiers 
at the West ; and the grand mart where the furs, which were 
deemed the most valuable products of this region, were collected 
for shipment to France, under a commercial system which was 
originally projected by the Cardinal de Richelieu. 

The condition of a country, although often in some measure 
modified by the natui-e of the climate and the soil, is more gener- 
ally founded upon the character of the people and that of its laws. 
This is clearly exhibited in the case of the Northwest ; for, while 
that domain was rich in all the natural advantages that could be 
furnished by the soil, it was entirely barren of all those moral and 
intellectual fruits springing from bold and energetic character, 
directed by a free, enlightened, and wholesome system of juris- 
prudence. 



CHAPTER IX. 



War Between the French and English Colonies — Braddock's 
March — His Defeat — Acadia, Niagara and Crown Point- 
Battle OF LAiiE George — Condition of Canada. 

Scarcely had the French established themselves in Canada, 
when a chain of circumstances occurred that resulted in their 
overthrow. The people of the northern English colonies had 
learned to regard their Canadian neighbors with the bitterest 
enmity. With them, the very name of Canada called up horrible 
recollections and ghastly images ; the midnight massacre of Sche- 
nectady, and the desolation of many a Ncav England hamlet ; 
blazing dwellings and reeking scalps, and children snatched from 
their mothers' arms, to be immured in convents, and trained up in 
the abominations of Popery. To the sons of the Puritans, their 
enemy was doubly odious. They hated him as a Frenchman, and 
they hated him as a Papist. 

Hitherto, he had waged his murderous warfare from a distance, 
wasting their settlements with rapid onsets, fierce and transient as 
a summer storm ; but now, with enterprising audacity, he was 
intrenching himself on their very borders. The English hunter, 
in the lonely wilderness of Vermont, as by the warm glow of sun- 
set he piled the spruce boughs for his woodland bed, started, as a 
deep, low sound struck faintly on his ears — the evening gun of Fort 
Frederic, booming over lake and forest. The erection of this fort, 
better known among the English as Crown Point, was a piece of 
daring encroachment, which justly kindled resentment in the 
northern colonies. But it was not here that the immediate occa- 
sion of a final rupture was to arise. By an article of the treaty 
of Utrecht, confirmed by that of Aix la Chapelle, Acadia had 
been ceded to England ; but, scarcely was the latter treaty signed, 
when debates sprang up touching the limits of the ceded province. 



140 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Commissioners were named on either side, to adjust the disputed 
boundary ; but the claims of the rival powers proved utterly irrec- 
oncilable, and all negotiation was fruitless. Meantime, the French 
and English forces in Acadia began to assume a belligerent atti- 
tude, and indulge their ill blood in mutual aggression and 
reprisal. But, Avhile this game was played on the coasts of the 
Atlantic, interests of far greater moment were at stake in the 
West. 

The people of the middle colonies, placed by their local posi- 
tion beyond reach of the French, had heard with great composure 
of the sufferings of their New England brethren, and felt little 
concern at a danger so doubtful and remote. There were those 
among them, however, who, with greater foresight had been quick 
to perceive the ambitious project of the rival nation ; and, as early 
as 1716, Spotswood, Governor of Virginia, had urged the expedi- 
ency of securing the valley of the Ohio by a series of forts and 
settlements. His proposal was coldly received, and his plan fell 
to the ground. The time at length was come when the danger 
was approaching too near to be slighted longer. In 1748, an 
association, called the Ohio Company, was formed, with the view 
of making settlements in the region beyond the Alleghanies ; and, 
two years later. Gist, the company's surveyor, to the great disgust 
of the Indians, carried chain and compass down the Ohio as far as 
the falls at Louisville. But, so dilatory were the English, that, 
before any effectual steps Avere taken, their agile enemies appeared 
upon the scene. In the spring of 1753, the middle provinces were 
startled at the tidings that French troops had crossed Lake Erie, 
fortified themselves at the point of Presque Isle, and pushed for- 
ward to the northern branches of the Ohio. Upon this. Governor 
Dinwiddle, of Virginia, resolved to despatch a message requiring 
their removal from territory which he had claimed as belonging 
to the British crown ; and, looking about him for the person best 
qualified to act as messenger, he made choice of George Washing- 
ton, a young man twenty-one years of age, Adjutant-General of 
the Virginia militia. 

Washington departed on his mission, crossed the mountains, 
descended to the bleak and leafless valley of the Ohio, and thence 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



141 



continued his journey up the banks of the Alleghany, until the 
fourth of December. On that day he reached Venango, an Indian 
town on the Alleghany, at the mouth of French Creek. Here 
was the advanced post of the French, and here, among the Indian 




HON. CHARLES W. GRANT. 

Charles Wesley Gkant, of East Saginaw, was born March 15, 1817, 
at Smithville, Chenango county, New York. He came to Michigan at the 
age of twenty years, and settled in Saginaw county in the spring of 
1849. At that time there being no railroad nor plank road, and scarcely 
any other leading to that county, he came in a skiff down Flint river from 
the then village of Flint with the late George R. Cummings, Esq. , who 
had just received a commission from Governor Ransom as prosecuting 
attorney for Saginaw county. 



142 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

log cabins and huts of bark, he saw their flag flying above the 
house of an English trader, whom the military intruders had 
unceremoniously ejected. They gave the young envoy a hospita- 
ble reception, and referred him to the commanding oflicer, whose 
headquarters were at Le Boeuf, a fort which they had just built on 
French Creek, some distance above Venango. Thither Washing- 
ton repaired, and on his arrival was received with stately courtesy 
by the officer, Legarduer de St. Pierre, whom he describes as an 
elderly gentleman of very soldier-like appearance. To the mes- 
sage of Dinwiddle St. Pierre replied that he would forward it to 
the Governor-General of Canada ; but that, in the meantime, his 
orders wei-e to hold possession of the country, and this he should 
do to the best of his ability. With this answer, Washington, 
through all the rigors of the midwinter forest, retraced his steps, 
with one attendant, to the English borders. 

While the rival nations were beginning to quarrel for a prize 
which belonged to neither of them, the unhappy Indians saw, with 
alarm and amazement, their lands becoming a bone of contention 
between rapacious strangers. The first appearance of the French 
on the Ohio excited the wildest fears in the tribes of that quarter, 
among whom were those who, disgusted by the encroachments of 
the Pennsylvanians, had fled to those remote retreats to escape the 
intrusion of the white men. Scarcely was their fancied asylum 
gained, when they saw themselves invaded by a host of armed men 
from Canada. Thus, j^laced between two fires, they knew not 
which way to turn. There was no union in their counsels, and 
they seemed like a mob of bewildered children. Their native jeal- 

In 1850, as a partner of A. M. Hoyt, the proprietor of the incipient city 
of East Saginaw, he built tlie first mill erected there, and for himself, the 
first dwelling house. He was one of the five voters who organized the 
township of Buena Vista in 1851. At that election he was elected town- 
ship clerk, commissioner of highways, justice of the peace, school inspec- 
tor, etc. 

In. 1856 he was elected sheriff of Saginaw county, and held that office 
for the four following years. 

During President Buchanan's administration, and for two j^ears after- 
wards, he served as deputy United States marshal under Col. Rice, Col. 
Davis and John S. Bagg. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 143 

ousy was roused to its utmost pitch. Many of them thought that 
the two white nations had conspired to destroy them, and then 
divide their lands. " You and the French," said one of them, a 
few years afterwards, to an English emissary, " are like the two 
edges of a pair of shears, and we are the cloth which is cut to 
pieces between them." 

The French labored hard to conciliate them, plying them with 
gifts and flatteries, and proclaiming themselves their champions 
against the English. At first, these arts seemed in vain, but their 
effect soon began to declare itself; and this effect was greatly 
increased by a singular piece of infatuation on the part of the pro- 
prietors of Pennsylvania. 

During the summer of 1754, delegates of the several provinces 
met at Albany, to concert measures of defense in the war which 
now seemed inevitable. It was at this meeting that the memor- 
able plan of a union of the colonies was brought forward ; a plan, 
the fate of which was curious and significant, for the crown 
rejected it as giving too much power to the people, and the people 
as giving too much power to the crown. A council was also held 
with the Iroquois, and though they were found but lukewarm in 
their attachment to the English, a treaty of friendship and alliance 
was concluded with their deputies. It would have been well if the 
matter had ended here, but, with ill-timed rapacity, the proprie- 
tary agents of Pennsylvania took advantage of this great assem- 
blage of sachems to procure from them the grant of extensive 
tracts, including the lauds inhabited by the very tribes whom the 
French were at that moment striving to seduce. When they heard 

Mr. Grant came to Baginaw poor in purse, but rich in energy and cour- 
age. Having satisfied his taste for public office, he turned his attention to 
himbering, which he has diligently and successfully pursued ever since. 
By the exercise of his business talent, which is of a high order, he has 
built up an enviable credit and amassed an ample fortune. He is an exam- 
ple of that steady advance in wealth and social standing that is invariably 
achieved by a young man of good habits and persevering industry, who 
has the good sense to husband his income and make it productive by 
judicious investment. He resides on the "James Riley Reservation," 
where he has erected a palatial residence. Here he enjoys his well earned 
wealth, and dispenses an elegant hospitality. 



144 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

that, without their consent, their conquerors and tyrants, the Iro- 
quois, had sold the soil from beneath their feet, their indignation 
was extreme ; and, convinced that there was no limit to English 
encroachment, many of them from that hour became fast allies of 
the French. 

The courts of London and Versailles still maintained a diplo- 
matic intercourse, both protesting their earnest wish that their 
conflicting claims might be adjusted by friendly negotiation ; but, 
while each disclaimed the intention of hostility, both were hasten- 
ing to prepare for war. Early in 1755, an English fleet sailed 
from Cork, having on board two regiments destined for Virginia, 
and commanded by General Braddock ; and, soon after, a French 
fleet put to sea from the port of Brest, freighted with munitions 
of war and a strong body of troops, under Baron Dieskau, an 
officer who had distinguished himself in the campaigns of Marshal 
Saxe. The English fleet gained its destination, and landed its 
troops in safety. The French were less fortunate. Two of their 
ships, the Lys and the Alcide, became involved in the fogs of the 
banks of Newfoundland ; and, when the weather cleared, they 
found themselves under the guns of a superior British force, 
belonging to the squadron of Admiral Boscowen, sent out 
for the express purpose of intercepting them. " Are we at 
peace or at war ?" demanded the French commander. A broad- 
side from the Englishman soon solved his doubts, and, after a 
stout resistance, the French struck their colors. News of the cap- 
ture caused great excitement in England, but the conduct of the 
aggressors was generally approved ; and, under pretence that the 
French had begun the war by their alleged encroachments in 
America, orders were issued for a general attack upon their marine. 
So successful were the British cruisers, that, before the end of the 
year, three hundred French vessels and nearly eight thousand 
sailors were captured and brought into port. The French, unable 
to retort in kind, raised an outcry of indignation, and Mirepoix, 
their ambassador, withdrew from the Court of London. 

Thus began that memorable war, which, kindling among the 
forests of America, scattered its fires over the kingdoms of Euroj^e 
and the sultry empire of the Great Mogul ; the war made glorious 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



145 



by the heroic death of Wolfe, the victories of Frederic, and the 
exploits of Clive ; the war which controlled the destinies of 
America, and was first in the chain of events which led on to her 
Revolution, with all its vast and undeveloped consequences. On 




PROF. DUANE DOTY. 

DuANE DoTY, the present Superintendent of Public Instruction for the 
city of Detroit, was born in the State of Ohio. He, with his parents, 
came to Micliigan during his early cliildhood, and iu this State received 
a thorough education, graduating from the literary department of the 
Michigan University, in 1856. 

With the exception of five years devoted to travel, army and editorial 
life, his whole time since his graduation has been occupied by educa- 
tional work. In 1865 he was appointed Superintendent of Public 
10 



146 • GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the old battle-ground of Europe the contest bore the same familiar 
features of violence and horror which had marked the strife of 
former generations — fields j^lot^^gbed by the cannon ball, and walls 
shattered by the exploding mine, sacked towns and blazing sub- 
urbs, the lamentation of Avomen, and the license of a maddened 
soldiery. But in America, war assumed a new and striking aspect. 
A wilderness was its sublime arena. Army met army under the 
shadows of primeval woods ; their cannon resounded over wastes 
unknown to civilized man. And, before the hostile powers could 
join in battle, endless forests must be traversed, and morasses 
passed, and everywhere the axe of the pioneer must hew a path for 
the bayonet of the soldier. 

Before the declaration of war, and before the breaking oflf of 
negotiations between the courts of France and England, the English 
ministry formed the j)lan of assailing the French in America on 
all sides at once, and repelling them, by one bold push, from all 
their encroachments. A provincial army w\as to advance upon 
Acadia, a second was to attack Crown Point, and a third Niagara ; 
while the two regiments which had lately arrived in Virginia, 
under General Braddock, aided by a strong body of provincials, 
were to dislodge the French from their neAvly-built fort of Du 
Quesne. To Braddock was assigned the chief command of all 
the British forces in America ; and a person worse fitted for the 
office could scarcely have been found. His experience had been 
ample, and none could doubt his courage ; but he was profligate, 

Instruction for the city of Detroit, which difficult and laborious position 
he has acceptably filled for eight years. During his term of office many 
important improvements have been made ; the school work and school 
business have all been thoroughly systematized, and the city supplied 
with good school buildings. 

Mr. Doty's organizing and administrative ability is conceded to be of a 
very high order, and he belongs emphatically to the class of workers who 
richly merit the honors conferred upon them. His work and efforts in 
the cause of popular education have secured him an enviable reputation, 
and, besides this, he is well known for his knowledge of the vast and 
increasing resources of his country, and for availing himself of every 
opportunity for adding to his abundant fund of information on all sub- 
jects. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 147 

arrogant, perverse, and a bigot to military rules. On his first 
arrival in Virginia, he called together the Governors of the sev- 
eral provinces, in order to explain his instructions and adjust the 
details of the projected operations. These arrangements complete, 
Braddock advanced to the borders of Virginia, and formed his 
camp at Fort Cumberland, where he spent several weeks in train- 
ing the raw backwoodsmen who joined him into such discipline as 
they seemed capable of; in collecting horses and wagons, which 
could only be had with the utmost difficulty ; in railing at the 
contractors, who scandalously cheated him ; and in venting his 
spleen by copious abuse of the country and the people. All at 
length was ready, and early in June, 1755, the army left civiliza- 
tion behind, and struck into the broad wilderness as a squadron 
puts out to sea. 

It was no easy task to force their way over that rugged ground, 
covered with an unbroken growth of forest ; and the difficulty was 
increased by the needless load of baggage which encumbered their 
march. The crash of falling trees resounded in the front, where 
a hundred axemen labored with ceaseless toil to hew a passage for 
the army. The horses strained their utmost strength to drag the 
ponderous wagons over roots and stumps, through gullies and quag- 
mires ; and the regular troops were daunted by the depth and 
gloom of the forest which hedged them in on either hand, and 
closed its leafy arch above their heads. So tedious was their pro- 
gress, that, by the advice of Washington, twelve hundred chosen 
men moved on in advance, with the lighter baggage and artillery, 
leaving the rest of the army to follow, by slower stages, with the 
heavy wagons. On the eighth of July, the advanced body reached 
the Monongahela, at a point not far distant from Fort du Quesne. 
The rocky and impracticable ground on the eastern side debarred 
their passage, and the General resolved to cross the river in search 
of a smoother path, and re-cross it a few miles lower dowm, in 
order to gain the fort. The first passage was easily made, and the 
troops moved, in glittering array, down the western margin of the 
water, rejoicing that their goal was well nigh reached, and the hour 
of their expected triumph close at hand. 

Scouts and Indian runners had brought the tidings of Braddock's 



148 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

approach to the Freuch at Fort du Quesue. Their dismay was 
great, and Contrecour, the commauder, thought only of retreat, 
Avhen Beaujeu, a captain in the garrison, made the bold proposal 
of leading out a party of French and Indians to waylay the Eng- 
lish in the woods, and harass or interrupt their march. The offer 
was accepted, and Beaujeu hastened to the Indian camp. 

Around the fort and beneath the adjacent forest were the bark 
lodges of savage hordes, whom the French had mustered from far 
and near: Ojibwas and Ottawas, Hurons and Caughnawagas, 
Abenakis and Delawares. Beaujeu called the warriors together, 
flung a hatchet on the ground before them, and invited them to 
follow him out to battle ; but the boldest stood aghast at the peril, 
and none would accept the challenge. A second interview took 
place, with no better success ; but the Frenchman was resolved to 
carry his point. " I am determined to go," he exclaimed. " What, 
will you suffer your father to go alone ?" His daring proved con- 
tagious. The warriors hesitated no longer ; and when, on the 
morning of the ninth of July, a scout ran in Avith the news that 
the English army was but a few miles distant, the Indian camps 
were at once astir with the turmoil of preparation. Chiefs 
harangued their yelling followers, braves bedaubed themselves 
with war-paiut, smeared themselves with grease, hung feathers in 
their scalp-locks, and whooped and stamped till they had wrought 
themselves into a delirium of valor. 

Tliat morning, James Smith, an English prisoner, recently cap- 
tured on the frontier of Pennsylvania, stood on the rampart, and 
saw the half-frenzied multitude thronging about the gateway, where 
kegs of bullets and gunpowder were broken open, that each might 
help himself at will. Then band after band hastened away 
towards the forest, followed and supported by nearly two hundred 
and fifty French and Canadians, commanded by Beaujeu. There 
were the Ottawas, led on, it is said, by the remarkable man whose 
name stands so prominently on the pages of this history ; there 
were the Hurons, of Lorette, under their chief, whom the French 
called Athanose, and many more, all keen as hounds on the scent 
of blood. At about nine miles from the fort they reached a spot 
where the narrow road descended to the river through deep and 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



149 



gloomy woods, and where two ravines, concealed by trees and 
bushes, seemed formed by nature for an ambuscade. Beaujeu 
well knew the ground ; and it was here that he had resolved to 
fight ; but he and his followers were well nigh too late ; for, as 




HON. J. G. SUTHERLAND, 

Jabez G. Sutherland was born October 6, 1825, in Onondaga county, 
New York; removed with his lather to Michigan in 1836, and has ever 
since resided in the counties of Genesee and Saginaw. He commenced 
the study of law in 1844, and came to the bar in 1848. In 1849 he settled 
in Saginaw county, and was appointed by the Governor prosecuting 
attorney of tliat county. He served as delegate in the Constitutional 
Convention of 1850, and in 1853 as a member of the lower branch of the 
Legislatui'e. In 1858 he was the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for 



150 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

they neared the ravines, the woods were resounding with the roll 
of the British drums. 

It was past noon of a day brightened with the clear sunlight of 
an American midsummer, when the forces of Braddock began, for 
a second time, to cross the Mouongahela, at the fording-place, 
which, to this day, bears the name of their ill-fated leader. The 
scarlet columns of the British regulars, complete in martial appoint- 
ment, the rude backwoodsmen, with shouldered rifles, the trains of 
artillery and the white-topped wagons, moved on in long proces- 
sion through the shallow current, and slowly mounted the opj^osing 
bank. Men were there whose names have become historic : Gage, 
who, twenty-one years later, saw his routed battalions recoil in 
disorder from before the breastworks on Bunker Hill ; Gates, the 
future conqueror of Burgoyne ; and one destined to a higher fame, 
George Washington, a boy in years, a man in calm thought and 
self-ruling wisdom. 

With steady and well-ordered march the troops advanced into 
the great labyrinth of woods which shadowed the eastern borders 
of the river. Rank after rank vanished from sight. The forest 
swallowed them up, and the silence of the wilderness sank down 
once more on the shores and waters of the Monongahela. 

Several engineers and guides and six light horsemen led the 
way ; a body of grenadiers under Gage was close behind, and the 
army followed, in such order as the rough ground would permit, 
along a narrow road, twelve feet wide, tunneled through the dense 
and matted foliage. There were flanking parties on either side, 
*but no scouts to scour the woods in front, and, with an insane con- 
fidence, Braddock pressed on to meet his fate. The van had 
passed the low grounds that bordered the river, and were now 
ascending a gently rising ground, where, on either hand, hidden by 
thick trees, by tangled undergrowth and rank grasses, lay the two 
fatal ravines. Suddenly, Gorden, an engineer in advance, saw the 
French and Indians bounding forward through the forest and 

Attorney-General; in 1863 was elected circuit judge of the tenth circuit, 
and reelected in 1869 without opposition. In 1870 he was elected to 
Congress, and thereupon resigned his judgeship. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 151 

along the narrow track, Beaujeu leading them on, dressed in a 
fringed hunting-shirt, and wearing a silver gorget on his breast. 
He stopped, turned and waved his hat, and his French followers, 
crowding across the road, opened a murderous fire upon the head 
of the British column ; while, screeching their war cries, the Indians 
thronged into the ravines, or crouched behind rocks and trees on 
both flanks of the advancing troops. The astonished grenadiers 
returned the fire, and returned it with good effect ; for a random 
shot struck down the brave Beaujeu, and the courage of the 
assailants was staggered by his fall. Dumas, second in command, 
rallied them to the attack ; and while he, with the French and 
Canadians, made good the pass in front, the Indians from their 
lurking places opened a deadly fire on the right and left. In a 
few moments all was confusion. The advance guard fell back on 
the main body, and every trace of subordination vanished. The 
fire soon extended along the whole length of the army, from front 
to rear. Scarce an enemy could be seen, though the forests 
resounded with their yells ; though every bush and tree was alive 
with incessant flashes ; though the lead flew like a hail-storm, and 
the men went down by scores. The regular troops seemed bereft 
of their senses. They huddled together in the road like flocks of 
sheep ; and happy did he think himself who could wedge his way 
into the midst of the crowd, and place a barrier of human flesh 
between his life and the shot of the ambushed marksmen. Many 
were seen eagerly loading their muskets, and then firing them 
into the air, or shooting their own comrades, in the insanity of their 
terror. The officers, for the most part, displayed a conspicuous- 
gallantry ; but threats and commands were wasted alike on the 
panic-stricken multitude. It is said that, at the outset, Braddock 
showed signs of fear ; but he soon recovered his wonted intrepid- 
ity. Five horses were shot under him, and five times he mounted 
afresh. He stormed and shouted, and, while the Virginians were 
fighting to good purpose, each man behind a tree, like the Indians 
themselves, he ordered them, with furious menace, to form in pla- 
toons, where the fire of the enemy mowed them down like grass. 
At length, a mortal shot silenced him, and two provincials bore 
him off the field. Washington rode through the tumult, calm and 



152 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

undaunted. Two horses were killed under him, and four bullets 
pierced his clothes ; but his hour was not come, and he escaped 
without a wound. Gates was shot through the body, and Gage, 
also, was severely wounded. Of eighty-six officers only twenty- 
three remained unhurt ; and of twelve hundred soldiers, who 
crossed the Monongahela, more than seven hundred were killed 
and wounded. None suffered more severely than the Virginians, 
who had displayed throughout a degree of courage and steadiness 
which put the cowardice of the regulars to shame. The havoc 
among them was terrible, for, of their whole number, scarcely one- 
fifth left the field alive. 

The slaughter lasted three hours, when, at length, the survivors, 
as if impelled by a general impulse, rushed tumultuously from the 
place of carnage, and, with dastardly precipitation, fled across the 
Monongahela. The enemy did not pursue beyond the river, flock- 
ing to the field to collect the plunder, and gather a rich harvest of 
scalps. The routed troops pursued their flight until they met the 
rear division of the army, under Colonel Dunbar ; and then their 
senseless terrors did not abate. Dunbar's soldiers caught the 
infection. Common baggage, provisions and wagons were 
destroyed, and all fled together, eager to escape from the shadows 
of those awful woods, whose horrors haunted their imagination. 
They passed the defenseless settlements of the border, and hurried 
on to Philadelphia, leaving the unhappy people to defend them- 
selves as they might against the tomahawk and scalping-knife. 

The calamities of this disgraceful rout did not cease with the 
loss of a few hundred soldiers on the field of battle ; for it brought 
upon the province all the miseries of an Indian war. Those among 
the tribes who had thus far stood neutral, wavering between the 
French and English, now hesitated no longer. Many of them had 
been disgusted by the contemptuous behavior of Braddock. All 
had learned to despise the courage of the English, and to regard 
their own prowess with unbounded complacency. It is not in 
Indian nature to stand quiet in the midst of war ; and the defeat 
of Braddock was a signal for the western savages to snatch their 
tomahawks and assail the English settlements with one accord, 
murdering and pillaging with ruthless fury, and turning the fron- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 153 

tier of Pennsylvania and Virginia into one wide scene of havoc 
and desolation. 

The three remaining expeditions which the British ministry had 
planned for that year's campaign were attended with various 




HON. JOHN N. MELLEN. 

John N. Mellen, the present State Senator from the twenty first sena- 
torial district of this State, was born in tlie town of Garry, Cliautauqua 
county. New Yorli, September 30, 1831. His father, Leander Mellen, 
was born at Shaftsbury, Bennington county, Vt., February 17, 1797. 

Mr. Mellen emigrated to Michigan in 1837, and settled in the town of 
Washington, Macomb county. He received a thorough common school 
education in the schools of that county, and removed to the town of 
Lenox, in the same county, in 1841. In 1869 he again changed his place 
of residence, and settled in the village of Romeo, where he still resides. 



154 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

results. Acadia was quickly reduced by the forces of Colonel 
Monkton ; but the glories of this easy victory were tarnished by 
an act of cruelty. Seven thousand of the unfortunate people, 
refusing to take the prescribed oath of allegiance, were seized by 
the conquerors, torn from their homes, placed on shipboard, like 
cargoes of negro slaves, and transported to the British provinces. 
The expedition against Niagara was a total failure, for the troops 
did not even reach their destination. The movement against 
CroAvn Point met with no better success, as regards the main object 
of the enterprise. Owing to the lateness of the season, and other 
causes, the troops proceeded no farther than Lake George ; but 
the attempt was marked by a feat of arms, which, in that day of 
failures, was greeted, both in England and America, as a signal 
victory. 

General Johnson, afterwards Sir William Johnson, had been 
charged with the conduct of the Crown Point expedition ; and his 
little army, a rude assemblage of hunters and farmers from New 
York and New England, officers and men alike ignorant of war, 
lay encamped at the southern extremity of Lake George. Here, 
while they languidly pursued their preparations, their active enemy 
anticipated them. Baron Dieskau, who, with a body of troops, 
had reached Quebec in the squadron which sailed from Brest in 
the spring, had intended to take forcible possession of the English 
fort of Oswego, erected upon ground claimed by the French as a 
part of Canada. Learning Johnson's movement, he changed his 
plan, crossed Lake Champlain, made a circuit by way of Wood 

From 1847 until 1853 Mr. Mellen was actively engaged in the govern- 
ment surveys of the Upper Peninsula, and explored the wild and pic- 
turesque scenery of the Lake Superior region. During the winter of 
1853-54 he made a trip to the Pacific coast, and remained two years 
among the gold mines, becoming thoroughly conversant with the man- 
ners and customs of those bold adventurers who, in search of wealth, 
had forsaken their comfortable homes in the East, and exposed them- 
selves to the dangers and hardships of this new country, peopled with 
hostile Indians. He was with Lieutenant Richardson on a topographical 
survey of Northern California, Oregon and Washington Territoiy, in 
1856, and while on this expedition learned a considerable of the habits of 
the diflerent tribes of Indians dwelling in those regions. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 155 

Creek, and gained the rear of the English army, with a force of 
about two thousand French and Indians. At midnight, on the 
seventh of September, the tidings reached Johnson that the army 
of the French baron was but a few miles distant from his camp. 
A council of war was called, and the resolution formed of detach- 
ing a thousand men to reconnoitre. If they are to be killed, said 
Hendrick, the Mohawk chief, they are too many ; if they are to 
fight, they ai'e too few. His remonstrance was unheeded ; and the 
brave old savage, unable from age and corpulence to fight on foot, 
mounted his horse and joined the English detachment, with two 
hundred of his warriors. At sunrise, the party defiled from the 
camp, and, entering the forest, disappeared from the eyes of their 
comrades. 

Those who remained behind labored with all the energy of 
alarm to fortify their unprotected camp. An hour elapsed, when, 
from the distance, was heard a sudden explosion of musketry. 
The excited soldiers suspended their work to listen. A rattling 
fire succeeded, deadened among the woods, but growing louder and 
nearer, till none could doubt that their comrades had met the 
French, and were defeated. 

This was indeed the case. Marching through thick woods, by 
the narrow and newly-cut road which led along the valley south- 
ward from Lake George, Williams, the English commander, had 
led his men full into an ambuscade, where all Dieskau's army lay 
in wait to receive them. From the woods on both sides rose an 
appalling shout, followed by a storm of bullets. Williams was 
soon shot down ; Hendrick shared his fate ; many officers fell, and 

lu 1857 he returned to "the States," and was engaged iu government 
surveys at the head of the Red River of the North, in the State of Min- 
nesota. Here he acquired much valuable information of the soil, climate 
and products of that region, and also increased his knowledge of the 
peculiar traits of the red man. In 1860 he was occupied on survej^s in 
the northern portion of Wisconsin, with Alfred Millard, Esq., and Har- 
vey Mellen. He was employed in the early surveys of Dacota Territory 
in 1861-2-3, under the supervision of G. D. Hill, surveyor-general. Since 
that time Mr. Mellen has been engaged in exploring the unsettled por- 
tions of the States of Wisconsin and Michigan, in search of pine lands 
and minerals, in which he is an extensive dealer. 



156 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATEH. 

the road was strewed with dead and wounded soldiers. The Eng- 
lish gave Avay at once. Had they been regular troops, the result 
would have been worse ; but every man was a woodsman and a 
hunter. Some retired in bodies along the road ; while the greater 
part spread themselves through the forest, opposing a wide front to 
the enemy, fighting stubbornly as they retreated, and shooting 
back at the French from behind every tree or bush that could 
afford a cover. The Canadians and Indians pressed them closely, 
darting, with shrill cries, from tree to tree, while Dieskau's regu- 
lars, with steadier advance, bore all before them. Far and wide 
through the forest rang shout and shriek and Indian whoop, min- 
gled with the deadly rattle of guns. Retreating and pursuing, the 
combatants passed northward towards the English camp, leaving 
the ground behind them strewn with dead and dying. A fresh 
detachment from the camp came in aid of the English, and the 
pursuit was checked. Yet the retreating men were not the less 
rejoiced when they could discern between the brown columns of 
the woods, the mountains and waters of Lake George, with the 
tents of their encampments on its shores. The French followed no 
farther. The blast of their trumpets was heard recalling their 
scattered men for a final attack. 

During the absence of Williams' detachment, the main body of 
the army had covered the front of their camp with a breastwork — 
if the name can be applied to a row of logs — behind which the 
marksmen lay flat on their faces. This preparation was not yet 
complete, when the defeated troops appeared issuing from the 
woods. Breathless and perturbed, they entered the camp, and lay 
down with the rest ; and the army waited the attack in a frame of 
mind which boded ill for the result. Soon, at the edge of the 
woods which bordered the open space in front, painted Indians 
were seen, and bayonets glittered among the foliage, shining, in 
the homely comparison of a New England soldier, like a row of 
icicles on a January morning. The French regulars marched in 
column to the edge of the clearing, and formed in line, confronting 
the English at the distance of a hundred and fifty yards. Their 
complete order, their white uniforms and bristling bayonets, were 
a new and startling sight to the eyes of Johnson's rustic soldiers, 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



157 



who raised but a feeble cheer in answer to the shouts of their ene- 
mies. Happily, Dieskau made no assault. The regulars opened a 
distant fire of musketry, throwing volley after volley against the 
English, while the Canadians and Indians, dispersing through the 




E. B. WARD. 

Eber B. Ward was born in Canada in 1811, his parents having fled 
into that conntry from Vermont, to escape the ravages consequent upon 
"the war of eighteen hundred and twelve." But he was not destined to 
remain long in the enemy's country. As soon as the smoke had died 
away from the last battle-field, the family returned to their pleasant home 
in Rutland county, Vermont, where they remained until Mr. Ward was 
about six years old. At this period, the future of the American States 
being fixed, civilization again resumed its westward march. Vermont, 
among other New England States, contributed to the movement, and in 
1817 many of the best families of the Green Mountain State were seeking 



158 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

morasses on each flauk of the camp, fired sharply, under cover of 
the trees and bushes. In the rear, the English were protected by 
the lake, but on the three remaining sides they were hedged in by 
the flash and smoke of musketry. 

The fire of the French had little efiect. The English recovered 
from their first surprise, and every moment their confidence rose 
higher and their shouts grew louder. Leveling their long hunting 
guns with cool precision, they returned a fire which thinned the 
ranks of the French, and galled them beyond endurance. Two 
cannon were soon brought to bear upon the morasses which shel- 
tered the Canadians and Indians; and, though the pieces were 
served with little skill, the assailants were soon terrified by the 
crashing of the balls among the trunks and branches, that they 
gave way at once. Dieskau still persisted in the attack. From 
noon until past four o'clock, the firing was scarcely abated, when, 
at length, the French, who had sufiered extremely, showed signs 
of wavering. At this, with a general shout, the English broke 
from their camp and rushed upon their enemies, striking them 
down with the butts of their guns, and driving them through the 
woods like deer. Dieskau was taken j^risoner, dangerously 
wounded, and leaning for support against the stump of a tree. 
The slaughter would have been great, had not the English gen- 
eral recalled the pursuers, and suflfered the French to continue 
their flight unmolested. Fresh disasters still awaited the fugitives ; 

a more lucrative inheritance in tlie boundless West and South. Mr. 
Ward's parents were among the travelers. They had set out for Ken- 
tucky, but being delayed at Waterford, Pennsylvania, for some time, 
owing to a disarrangement in their plans for transportation, a sad dispen- 
sation of Providence interrupted their journey. Mr. Ward's mother, after 
a severe illness, died, and was buried at this place. Changing their 
course, the father and son went into Ohio. Subsequently events led them 
westward until they were permanently located in Michigan. 

Mr. Ward first landed in Detroit in 1821, when he was onlj^ nine years 
old. Then he was a poor boy, without even the prospect of fortune and 
success; but, observe the course he pursued, and the results that attended 
his efforts. Nature seems to have qualified him to battle the perils of 
pioneer life; and, as if to increase the hardships that apparent ill fortune 
had already visited upon him, at the age of twelve years he secured the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 159 

for, as they approached the scene of that morning's ambuscade, 
they were greeted by a volley of musketry. Two companies of 
New York and New Hampshire rangers, who had come out from 
Fort Edward as a scouting party, had lain in wait to receive them. 
Favored by the darkness of the woods — for night was now 
approaching — they made so sudden and vigorous an attack, that 
the French thought them far superior in numbers, were totally 
routed and dispersed. This memorable conflict has cast its dark 
associations over one of the most beautiful spots in America. 
Near the scene of the evening fight, a pool, half overgrown by 
weeds and water lilies, and darkened by the surrounding forest, as 
pointed out to the tourist, and he is told that beneath its stagnant 
waters lie the bones of three hundred Frenchmen deep buried in 
mud and slime. 

. The war thus began was pros'^cuted for five succeeding years 
with the full energy of both nations. The period was one of suf- 
fering and anxiety to the colonists, who, knowing the full extent 
of their danger, spared no exertion to avert it. In the year 1758, 
Lord Abercrombie, who then commanded in America, had at his 
disposal a force amounting to fifty thousand men, of whom the 
greater part were provincials. The operations of the war 
embraced a wide extent of country, from Cape Breton and Nova 
Scotia to the sources of the Ohio ; but nowhere was the contest so 
actively carried on as in the neighborhood of Lake George, the 
waters of which, joined with those of Lake Champlain, formed 

humble position of cabin boy on a small schooner on the lakes. Thus 
was modestly inaugurated Captain Ward's marine life. It is inexpedient 
to tax the reader with all the changing scenes that came over his life 
since this dedication of boyhood to the interests of navigation. It is 
enough to say that from these humble beginnings, by hard industry and 
timely enterprise, he has won success for lake navigation, and wealth for 
himself. His accumulations are said to exceed five millions, and may be 
summed up as follows: $1,000,000 in Chicago EoUing Mills stock, 
$500,000 in Milwaukee Rolling Mills stock, $500,000 in Wyandotte Roll- 
ing Mills stock, $500,000 in floating property, and over $3,000,000 in real 
estate. 

Mr. E. B. Ward is now about sixty -two years of age, but is prosecuting 
his enormous business with all the vigor and exactness of his youth. 



160 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the main avenue of communication between Canada and the Brit- 
ish provinces. Lake George is more than thirty miles long, but 
of width so slight that it seems like some broad and placid river, 
enclosed between ranges of lofty mountains ; now contracting into 
narrows, dotted with islands and shadowed by cliffs and crags, now 
spreading into a clear and open expanse. It had long been known 
to the French. The Jesuit, Isaac Jogues, bound on a fatal mis- 
sion to the ferocious Mohawks, had reached its banks on the eve of 
Corpus Christi Day, and named it Lac St. Sacremeut. Its soli- 
tude was now rudely invaded. Armies passed and re-passed upon 
its tranquil bosom. At its northern point the French planted 
their stronghold of Ticonderoga ; at its south stood the English 
fort, William Henry ; while the mountains and waters between 
were a scene of ceaseless ambuscades, surprises, and forest skir- 
mishing. Through summer and winter, the crack of rifles and the 
cries of men gave no rest to their echoes ; and at this day, on the 
field of many a forgotten fight, are dug up rusty tomahawks, 
corroded bullets, and human bones, to attest the struggles of the 
past. 

The earliest years of the war were unpropitious to the English, 
whose commanders displayed no great degree of vigor or ability. 
In the summer of 1756, the French general, Montcalm, advanced 
upon Oswego, took it, and leveled it to the ground. In August of 
the following year, he struck a heavier blow. Passing Lake 
George with a force of eight thousand men, including about two 
thousand Indians, gathered from the farthest parts of Canada, he 
laid siege to Fort William Henry, close to the spot where Dieskau 
had been defeated two years before. Planting his batteries against 
it, he beat down its ramparts and dismounted its guns, until the 
garrison, after a brave defense, were forced to capitulate. They 
marched out with the honors of war ; but, scarcely had they done 
so, when Montcalm's Indians assailed them, cutting down and 
scalping them without mercy. Those who escaped came into Fort 
Edward with exaggerated accounts of the horrors from which they 
fled, and a general terror was spread through the country. The 
inhabitants were mustered from all parts to repel the advance of 
Montcalm ; but the French general, satisfied with what he had 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



161 



done, re-passed Lake George, and retired behind the walls of 
Ticonderoga. 

In the year 1758, the war began to assume a different aspect, 
for Pitt was at the head of the government. Sir Jeffrey Amherst 




HON. CHARLES M. GARRISON. 

Charles M. Garrison, a leading citizen of Detroit, Michigan, was 
born near Mt. Vernon, Oliio, on the 17th of March, 1837. His father, 
Jolin J. Garrison, commenced business in Detroit in 1829 as a wholesale 
grocer. After being burned out and losing his entire stock on two differ- 
ent occasions, he established himself a third time, and, in the midst of 
unbounded success, he retired in 1863, being succeeded by his son, the 
subject of this sketch. 

Charles M. Garrison spent his youthful days, as he has his entire life, 
11 



162 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

laid siege to the etrong fortress of Louisburg, and at length reduced 
it ; while in the South, General Forbes marched against Fort du 
Quesne, and, more fortunate than his predecessor, Braddock, drove 
the French from that important point. Another successful stroke 
was the destruction of Fort Frontenac, which was taken by a pro- 
vincial army, under Colonel Bradstreet. These achievements Avere 
counterbalanced by a great disaster. Lord Abercrombie, with an 
army of sixteen thousand men, advanced to the head of Lake 
George, the place made memorable by Dieskau's defeat and the 
loss of Fort William Henry. On a brilliant July morning, he 
embarked his whole force for an attack on Ticonderoga. Many 
of those present have recorded with admiration the beauty of the 
spectacle — the lines of boats, filled with troops, stretching far down 
the lake, the flashing of oars, the glittering of weapons, and 
the music ringing back from crags and rocks, or dying, in mel- 
lowed strains, among the distant mountains. At night, the army 
landed, and, driving in the French outposts, marched through the 
woods towards Ticonderoga. One of their columns, losing its way 
in the forest, fell in Avith a body of the retreating French ; and, 
in the conflict that ensued, Lord Howe, the favorite of the army, 
was shot dead. On the eighth of July, they prepared to storm 
the lines which Montcalm had drawn across the peninsula, in 
front of the fortress. Advancing to the attack, they saw before 
them a breastwork of uncommon height and thickness. The 
French were drawn up behind it, their heads alone visible, 
as they leveled their muskets against the assailants ; while, for a 

in the city of Detroit, receiving a thorough education in her common 
scliools. 

At the age of sixteen he entered his father's store, and lias been con- 
stantly engaged in the wholesale grocery trade ever since, building up 
one of the most extensive and important establishments in Michigan. 

Mr. Garrison has filled a number of positions of importance and trust, 
and has ever been known to perform his duties faithfully and well. In 
1871 he was elected president of the Board of Trade without opposition, • 
and his performance of the duties of that responsible position was such 
as to secure his unanimous reelection to the same office in 1872. 

When the disastrous fires of the fall of 1871 swept over the northern 
and western portions of our State, laying whole towns in ashes, and 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 163 

hundred yards in front of the work, the ground was covered with 
felled trees, with sharpened branches, pointing outwards. The 
signal of assault was given. In vain, the Highlanders, screaming 
with rage, hewed with their broadswords among the branches, 
struggling to get at the enemy. In vain the English, with their 
deep-toned shout, rushed on in heavy columns. A tempest of 
musket balls met them, and Montcalm's cannon swept the whole 
ground with terrible carnage. A few officers and men forced their 
way through the branches, passed the ditch, climbed the breast- 
work, and, leaping among the enemy, were instantly bayonetted. 
The English fought four hours with determined valor, but the 
position of the French was impregnable ; and at length, having 
lost two thousand of their number, the army drew off, leaving 
many of their dead scattered upon the field. A sudden panic 
seized the defeated troops. They rushed in haste to their boats, 
and, though no pursuit was attempted, they did not regain their 
composure until Lake George was between them and the enemy. 
The fatal lines of Ticonderoga were not soon forgotten in the 
provinces ; and marbles in Westminster Abbey preserve the mem- 
ory of those who fell on that disastrous day. 

This repulse, far from depressing the energies of the British 
commanders, seemed to stimulate them to new exertion ; and the 
campaign of the next year, 1759, had for its object the immediate 
and total reduction of Canada. This unhappy country was full 
of misery and disorder. Peculation and every kind of corruption 
prevailed among its civil and military chiefs, a reckless licentious- 
doing incalculable damage to our pine forests and farming interests, and 
rendering hundreds of families houseless and destitute, Mr. Garrison did 
his utmost to render assistance, and contributed largely to that end. He 
was appointed chairman of the State relief committee, by Governor 
Baldwin, and in this position he did a work that prevented a large 
amount of suffering, and brought happiness to many an unfortunate 
family throughout the desolate region traversed by the fires. 

In the autumn of 1872 he was chosen to represent the fourth ward of 
Detroit in her Common Council, and in the proceedings of that body he 
exerts considerable influence, and is ever found on the side of economy 
and honesty. 



164 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES, 

ness was increasing among the people, and a general famine seemed 
impending ; for the population had of late years been drawn 
away for military service, and the fields were left untilled. In 
spite of their sufferings, the Canadians, strong in rooted antipathy 
to the English, and highly excited by their priests, resolved on 
fighting to the last. Prayers were offered up in the churches, 
masses said, and penance enjoined, to avert the wrath of God 
from the colony, while everything was done for its defense which 
the energies of a great and patriotic leader could effect. 

The details of the fall of Quebec, and the death of Montcalm 
and Wolfe, having been given in another chapter, we will now 
follow the English army to Western Canada, Detroit, and other 
western outposts. 



CHAPTER X. 



The English take Possession of the Western Outposts op Canada 
— March op Major Rogers and the Provincial Rangers — 
Appearance op Pontiac — Sltirender of Detroit and Michili- 

MACKINAC TO THE ENGLISH — EnD OF FRENCH RuLE IN MICHIGAN. 

Canada had fallen ! Montcalm, her bold defender, had also 
fallen, and now the plains around Montreal were dotted with 
three victorious English armies. The work of conquest was com- 
plete. Canada, with all her dependencies, had yielded to the 
British Crown. It remained only for the English to take posses- 
sion of those western outposts, where the lilies of France were 
still flying from the flag staff. The execution of this very 
dangerous task was assigned to Major Robert Rogers, a provincial 
officer, and a native of New Hampshire. 

Rogers commanded a body of provincial rangers. Putnam and 
Stark were his associates ; and it was in this woodland warfare 
that the former achieved many of those startling adventures 
which have made his name familiar at every New England fire- 
side. 

On the twelfth of September, 1760, Rogers, then at the height 
of his reputation, received orders from Sir Jeffrey Amherst to 
ascend the lakes with a detachment of rangers, and take posses- 
sion, in the name of his Britannic Majesty, of Detroit, Michili- 
mackinac, and other western posts included in the capitulation of 
Montreal. He left the latter place on the following day with two 
hundred rangers in fifteen whale boats. 

They gained Lake Ontario, skirted its northern shore, amid 
rough and boisterous weather, and, crossing at its western extrem- 
ity, reached Fort Niagara on the first of October. Carrying 
their boats over the portage, they launched them once more above 
the cataract and slowly pursued their voyage ; while Rogers and 



166 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

a few attendants hastened on in advance to Fort Pitt, to deliver 
dispatches, with which he was charged, to General Monkton. 
This accomplished, he re-joined his army at Presque Isle, about 
the end of the month, and the whole proceeded together along the 
southern margin of Lake Erie. " The season was far advanced," 
says Parkman, " the wind was chill, the lake was stormy, and the 
woods on shore were tinged with the fading hues of autumn." 

On the seventh of November they reached the mouth of a river, 
called by Rogers, the Chogage. No body of troops under the ■ 
British flag had ever penetrated so far before. The day was dull 
and rainy, and, resolving to rest until the weather should improve, 
Rogers ordered his men to prepare their encampment in the 
neighboring forest. 

Soon after the arrival of the rangers, a party of Indian chiefs 
and warriors entered the camp. They proclaimed themselves an 
embassy from Pontiac, ruler of all that country, and directed, in 
his name, that the English should advance no further until they 
had had an interview with the great chief, who was already close 
at hand. In truth, before the day closed, Pontiac himself 
appeared ; and it is here, for the first time, that this remarkable 
man stands forth on the pages of the History of Michigan. He 
greeted Rogers with the haughty demand, what was his business 
in that country, and how dared he enter it without his permission. 
Rogers informed him that the French were defeated, that Canada 
had surrendered, and that he was on his way to take possession of 
Detroit, and restore a general peace to white men and Indians 
alike. Pontiac listened with attention, but only replied that he 
should stand in the path of the English until morning. Having 
inquired if the strangers were in need of anything which his 
country could afford, he withdrew, with his chiefs, at nightfall, 
to his own encampment ; while the English, ill at ease, and sus- 
pecting treachery, stood well on their guard throughout the night. 

In the morning, Pontiac returned to the camp, with his attend- 
ant chiefs, and made his reply to Rogers' speech of the i:)revious 
day. He was willing, he said, to live at peace with the English, 
and suffer them to remain in his country, as long as they treated 
him with due respect and deference. The Indian chiefs and 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



167 



provincial officers smoked the calumet together, and perfect har- 
mony seemed established between them. Up to this time, Pontiac 
had been the fast ally of the French, but it is easy to see the 
motive that impelled him to renounce his old allegiance. The 




HON. LYSANDER WOODWARD. 

Ltsandek Woodward, one of the most prominent men in Oakland 
county, was born in the town of Columbia, Tolland, county, Connecticut, 
November 19, 1817. His parents, Asahel Woodward and Harriet House, 
were natives of that State. 

In 1825, with his parents, he removed to the town of Chili, Monroe 
county, N. Y. From here he emigrated to Michigan in the fall of 1838. 

He married Miss Peninah A. Simpson on the 11th of May, 1843, and 
settled near the village of Rochester, Oakland county, where he still 
resides. 



168 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

American forests never produced a man more shrewd and ambi- 
tious. Ignorant as he was of what was passing in the world, he 
could clearly see that the French power was on the wane, and he 
knew his own interest too well to prop a falling cause. 

A cold storm of rain set in, and the rangers were detained sev- 
eral days in their encampment. During this time Rogers had 
several interviews with Pontiac, and was constrained to admire 
the native vigor of his intellect, no less than the singular control 
which he exercised over those around him. On the twelfth of 
November the detachment Avas again in motion, and within a few 
days they had reached the western end of Lake Erie. Here they 
heard that the Indians of Detroit were in arms against them, and 
that four hundred warriors lay in ambush at the entrance of the 
river to cut them off. The powerful influence of Pontiac being 
exerted in favor of his new friends, the warriors abandoned their 
design, and the rangers continued their march toward Detroit, now 
near at hand. 

Lieutenant Brehm was sent forward by Rogers to inform Cap- 
tain Beletre, the commandant at Detroit, that Canada had capitu- 
lated, that his garrison was included in the capitulation, and that 
an English detachment was approaching to relieve it. Captain 
Beletre, in great wrath at these tidings, disregarded the message 

Mr. Woodward's chief occupation is that of a farmer, but he has held 
many important offices in liis township. In ISttO he was elected Repre- 
sentative from the first district of Oakland county to the State Legislature, 
and served witli considerable distinction during one regular and two 
extra sessions. He was county treasurer of Oakland county two terms, 
from 18GG to 1870, and performed his duties in a thoroughly satisfactory 
manner. Mr. Woodward was also president of the Oakland County 
Agricultural Society for three years, and in this position did great service 
in advancing the agricultural interests of his county. He was among the 
first to conceive and advocate the building of the Detroit & Bay City 
Railroad, and has been instrumental in canvassing for and promoting its 
construction. He was chosen the first president of this company in 1871, 
which important office he held up to May 15, 1873, and he still remains 
one of the directors of the company. 

Mr. Woodward owns one of the largest and best cultivated farms in 
Oakland county. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN 



169 



as an informal communication, and resolved to keep a hostile atti- 
tude to the last. He did his best to rouse the fury of the Indians, 
but his faithless allies showed symptoms of defection in his hour 
of need. 




HON. PETER C. ANDRE. 

Peter Charles Andre, of Saginaw, was born in Detroit, Micliigan, 
October 25, 1817. His grandfather, Joseph Andre, was tlie founder and 
proprietor of Vincennes, Indiana, whence Joseph Clark Andre, the 
father of Peter C, removed in 1801 to Detroit, where, on July 29, 1813, 
he married Clemelia, daughter of Capt. John Pearson, of Boston, Mass. , 
who is known as among the earliest navigators of the upper lakes. Of 
the issue of this marriage there are still surviving, besides the subject of 
this sketch, Julia, wife of Major Placedus Ord, U. S. A., Elias C. and 
Alexander Andre, Josephine Schick and Louisa Calnon. 



170 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Rogers had now entered the mouth of the Detroit River, whence 
he sent forward Captain Campbell with a copy of the capitulation 
and a letter from the Marquis de Vaudreuil, directing that the 
place should be given up, in accordance with the terms agreed 
upon between him and General Amherst. Beletre was forced to 
yield, and with a very ill grace, declared himself and his garrison 
at the disposal of the English commander. 

The whale boats of the rangers moved slowly upwards between 
the low banks of the Detroit, until at length they came in sight 
of the little town. Before them, on the right side, they could see 
the village of the Wyandots, and on the left, the clustered lodges 
of the Pottawattomies, while a little beyond, the flag of France was 
flying for the last time above the bark roofs and weather-beaten 
palisades of the little fortified settlement. 

The rangers landed on the opposite bank, and pitched their tents 
upon a meadow, while two officers, with a small detachment, went 
across the river to take possession of the place. In obedience to 
their summons, the French garrison defiled upon the plain, and 

Mr. Andre's family consists of liis wife (formerly Miss Clarissa M. 
Stark), two daughters and himself. 

At a very early age he entered the dry goods store of S. P. Fletcher, 
then in the "John R. Williams Block," Detroit, as a clerk. After spend- 
ing a few years in that capacity, and before reaching his majority, he 
went into the mercantile, forwarding and commission business, on his 
own account, at Grand Haven, Michigan, and in 1843 established five 
trading posts in the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula. These he 
conducted until 1846, when he removed to Sagina-.v and opened a mer- 
cantile house, which he continued until 18G3. Since then he has been, 
and still is, engaged largely in the real estate business. 

Mr. Andre's fortune is among the largest in Saginaw; and it is pei'haps 
due him to say that his tact, sagacity and energy, have carried him suc- 
cessfully through the great financial troubles of the last forty years. 

He has been mayor of Saginaw and register of deeds for Saginaw 
county, and has held responsible positions under the general government. 

He has always taken a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the 
development and growth of his city and county. His advice and opin- 
ions are much sought in the councils of both, and he contributes freely 
and generously to every enterprise tending to their prosperity and wel- 
fare. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 171 

laid down their arms. The fleur de lis was lowered froni the flag- 
staff, and the cross of St. George rose aloft in its place, while 
seven hundred Indian warriors, lately the active allies of the 
French, greeted the sight with a burst of triumphant yells. 

The Canadian militia were next called together, and disarmed. 
The Indians beheld these actions with amazement, being quite at 
a loss to understand why so many men should bow before so few. 
" Nothing," says Parkman, " is more effective in gaining the respect 
or even attachment of Indians, than a display of power." The 
savage spectators conceived the loftiest ideas of English prowess, 
and were astonished at the forbearance of the conquerors in not 
killing their vanquished enemies on the spot. 

Thus, on the 29th of November, 1760, Detroit fell into the 
hands of the English. The garrison were sent as prisoners down 
the lake, but the Canadian inhabitants were allowed to retain 
their farms and houses, on condition of swearing allegiance to the 
British crown. An officer was sent southward to take possession 
of the forts Miami and Ouatanon, which guarded the communica- 
tion between Lake Erie and the Ohio ; while Rogers himself, Avith 
a small party, proceeded northward, to relieve the French garri- 
son of Michilimackinac. The storms and gathering ice of Lake 
Huron forced him back, without accomplishing his object, and 
Michilimackinac, with the three remoter posts of Ste. Marie, 
Green Bay, and St. Joseph, remained for a time in the hands of 
the French. During the next season, however, a detachment of 
the Sixtieth Regiment, then called the Royal Americans, took pos- 
session of them, a full account of which will be found farther on. 

Nothing now remained within the power of the French, except 
the few posts and settlements on the Mississippi and the Wabash, 
not included in the capitulation of Montreal. The fertile wilder- 
ness beyond the Alleghanies, over which France had claimed 
sovereignty — that boundless forest, with its tracery of interlacing 
streams, which, like veins and arteries, gave it life and nourish- 
ment — had passed into the hands of England. The French in 
America were completely subdued, and, to the English mind, there 
was little to be feared from the red man. The lapse of two years, 
however, sufficed to show how complete and fatal was the mistake. 



CHAPTER XI. 



HosTiiJTY Between the Northern Indians and the English — 
Experience of the First English Traders who Visited Mich- 

ILIMACKINAC — ThEIR PERSECUTIONS — ThE ENGLISH SOLDIERS TAKE 

Possession of Michilimackinac. 

With the change of jurisdiction narrated in the preceding chap- 
ter a new scene opens before us. The victory on the Heights of 
Abraham gave to England the possession of a wide extent of terri- 
tory ; but that territory was vast forest, broken only here and 
there by a prairie, a lake, or an Indian clearing. The emblems of 
power in these illimitable wastes were the log forts which had 
been, here and there, erected by the French for trading posts. 
The English took possession of these, garrisoned them with a few 
men, seemingly oblivious of the dangers by which they were sur- 
rounded, dependent, as they were, upon the Indians for supplies, 
and weakened by the long distances which separated them from 
each other. But, weak as they were, their presence alarmed the 
Indians. The untutored mind of the savage could not comprehend 
by what right the British flag was unfurled over their dominions, 
or why the English should claim any right to their lands because 
of a victory over the French. Hence, from the first, they were 
filled with suspicion and dislike ; and the conduct of the English 
was such as to foster, rather than allay, the feeling. The French 
had always treated the red man as a brother. " They called us 
children," said a Chippewa chief, " and we found them fathers." 
But the English were cold and harsh. The French had made 
them liberal presents ; but the English spurned them from their 
doors. The French traders had dealt honestly by them ; but the 
English had cheated them and outraged their families. 

Another source of discontent was the advent of English set- 
tlers. Their choicest lauds were invaded, and the graves of their 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



173 



ancestors desecrated. These things aroused some of the tribes to 
the highest pitch of excitement. 

In the meantime, the French were not idle. Every advantage 
was taken of the conduct of the English and the natural fears of 




HON. CHARLES S. MAY. 

Charles Sedgwick May was bom at Sandisfield, Berkshire county, 
Mass., March 33, 1830. In the year 1834, his father's family removed to 
Richland, Kalamazoo county, Michigan, being among the earliest settlers 
of the town. Until his fifteenth year he worked upon his father's farm, 
attending district school during the winter months. He then entered as 
a student the Kalamazoo branch of the Michigan University, and was in 
attendance with more or less regularity for four years, acquiring some 
knowledge, of Latin and Greek, and laying the foundations of the 
rhetorical and oratorical excellence for which he has since been so well 
known. At the age of twenty he had acquired a command of both 



174 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the Indians. They told the Indians that the English were deter- 
mined to exterminate them, or drive them from their homes and 
their hunting grounds ; that the King of France had been asleep, 
but was now awake, and hastening with a vast army to the assist- 
ance of his red children. 

Another cause which tended to increase their excitement, and 
hasten an outbreak, Avas the appearance of a prophet among the 
Delawares. He taught them to lay aside everything which they 
had received from the white man, and thus strengthen and purify 
their natures, and make themselves acceptable to the Great Spirit. 
He told them that by so doing the favor of the Great Spirit would 
be conciliated, and the white man would be foreyer driven from 
their dominions. 

This excitement soon led them to action. In the spring of 1761, 
Captain Campbell, then commanding at Detroit, learned that a 
deputation of Senecas had come to the neighboring village of the 
Wyandots, for the purpose of instigating the latter to destroy him 
and his garrison. Upon examination, the plot was found to be 
general, and other posts were to share the fate of his own ; but his 
promptness in sending information to the other commanders 

extemporaneous and written oratory rarely met with in so young a man. 
This naturally led him to the choice of law as a profession. After read- 
ing at home for some time such elementary law books as he could obtain, 
he pursued his legal studies more regularly at Bennington, Vermont, and 
at Battle Creek, Michigan, while at the same time he was a frequent 
contributor to the anti-slavery journals of the State. He was duly admit- 
ted to the bar of Michigan in 1854. From November, 1855, to October, 
1856, he was associate i)olitical editor of the Detroit Daily Tribune^ acting 
a considerable portion of that time as its editorial correspondent in 
Washington. Finding this employment too confining, he returned to 
the practice of law at Battle Creek, and in September, 1857, removed to 
Kalamazoo, where he has since resided, practicing his profession. 

In November, 1860, Mr. May was elected Prosecuting Attorney for 
Kalamazoo county. Immediately after the bombardment of Sumter, in 
April, 1861, he resigned his office to raise a company for the Second 
Regiment of Michigan infantry, and, with his men, started at once for 
the seat of war. After serving through the first campaign of the Army 
of the Potomac, participating with honor in the battles of Blackburn's 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 175 

nipped the conspiracy in the bud. During the following year, a 
similar design was detected and suppressed. But these proved to 
be only warnings of what was to come. In the spring of 1763, a 
scheme was matured, " greater in extent, deeper, and more com- 
prehensive in design — such a one as was never, before or since, 
conceived or executed by a North American Indian." It contem- 
plated, first, a sudden and contemporaneous assault upon all the 
English forts around the lakes ; and, second, the garrisons having 
been destroyed, the turning of a savage avalanche of destruction 
upon the defenseless frontier settlements, until, as many fondly 
believed, the English should be driven into the Atlantic Ocean, 
and the Indians reinstated in their primitive possessions. 

But, before we proceed further with the narration of the events 
of this consjairacy, let us turn our attention to the condition of 
Michilimackinac, and note the events which were there transpir- 
ing. The Indians of that locality as deeply regretted the change 
which had taken place as their more southern neighbors, and for 
the same causes. 

This post, it will be remembered, did not fall into the hands of 
the English until about one year after the surrender of Detroit. 

Ford and Bull Run, lie was compelled by ill health to resign his commis- 
sion, and return to his home and profession. 

In the fall of 1863, he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Michigan; 
as such, presiding over the State Senate during its sessions, though the 
youngest member of that body, with signal ability and general approval. 
He was universally conceded to have been one of the ablest presiding 
officers that had ever occupied the chair of the Senate chamber. 

On the 9tli of February, 1863, he addressed the Senate, in a carefully 
prepared speech, urging the Legislature to sustain the government in 
putting down the rebellion. The speech was widely circulated by his 
Republican friends, and was admitted, even by his political opponents, 
to be an eflFort of great power. 

On the 35th of January, 1864, during the extra session, at the unani- 
mous request of the Republican members of both branches of the 
Legislature, Mr. May made a speech in the Hall of Representatives, enti- 
tled " Union, Victory and Freedom," of such clearness of statement and 
force of argument, that it was published as a pamphlet and very widely 
circulated, and copied into many of the leading Republican journals 



176 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Our purpose is now to narrate some of the important events which 
transpired during the last year of French occupation of this 
ancient Indian metropolis. The English flag floated over every post 
in the lake region save this. Here, alone, the fleur de lis still 
waved in the breeze ; and here were collected those savages who 
were most hostile to the English. The French constantly goaded 
their Indian allies to greater hostility to the English — determined 
to harass the enemy they could not conquer. The feeling Avhich 
animated these Indians cannot be better described than by nar- 
rating some of the adventures of Alexander Henry, the first Eng- 
lish trader who ventured among them. No treaty having been 
made, it was with difficulty that Henry secured permission to 
trade. But consent was at last given, and,' on the third of August, 
1761, he began his perilous journey. Reaching Michilimackinac, 
he secured a house, but was immediately warned by the inhabit- 
ants that his position was far from safe. They advised him to lose 
no time in returning to Detroit ; but he disregarded their admo- 
nitions, and concluded to take his chances, his friend Campion 
having declared his belief that the Canadian settlers were more 
hostile than the Indians, and that their admonitions were prompted 
by jealousy of English traders. 

throughout the West. Since the close of his term as Lieutenant- 
Governor, lie has held no public office. 

In the national and State campaigns from 18ot> to 1870, he was actively 
engaged as a political orator on the Republican side. During the cam- 
paign of 1873, he supported Horace Greeley for President, running as 
elector at large on the Liberal State ticket. Although prevented by a 
severe and protracted illness from participating in the campaign to any 
extent that season, yet on the 27th of September, while still much enfee- 
bled, and suffering from disease, he made a notable and powerful speech 
at Union Hall, in Kalamazoo, in vindication of the Liberal movement, 
which was widely read and circulated throughout the State. 

In conclusion, the subject of this sketch is well known as a man of 
uncompromising integrity, and of indomitable and undaunted moral 
courage in his advocacy of the great principles of justice, temperance, 
morality and equal rights, and both for his own high character and his 
unquestioned ability, he commands the respect and confidence of his 
fellow men. ' 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



177 



Fort Michilimackinac was built by order of the Governor-Gen- 
eral of Canada, and garrisoned with a small number of militia, 
who, having families, soon became less soldiers than settlers. The 
fort and settlement stood on the south side of the strait connecting 




HON. B. W. HUSTON. 

Benjamfn W. Huston, of Vassar, Tuscola county, was born near the 
city of Rochester, New York, March 5, 1831. His father, B. W. Huston, 
Sr., removed from the State of New York in the spring of 1836, and set- 
tled upon a farm in the township of Canton, Wayne county, Michigan, 
where he is still living. 

Mr. Huston, Jr., the subject of this sketch, when very young, evinced 
a strong desire for an education, but the moderate means of his parents 
prevented them from gratifying this desire only in a limited manner. At 
12 



178 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The settlement had an area of 
two acres, and was inclosed with pickets of cedar wood, and was 
so near the water's edge, that when the wind was from the west, 
the waves broke against the stockade. On the bastions were two 
small pieces of English brass cannon. Within the stockade Avere 
thirty houses, neat in their appearance, and tolei-ably commodious, 
and a church, in which mass was celebrated by a Jesuit priest. 
The number of families was nearly equal to that of the houses, 
and their subsistence was derived from the Indian traders, who 
assembled there on their voyages to and from Montreal. Michili- 
mackinac was the place of deposit, and point of departure between 
the upper countries and the lower. Here the outfits were prepared 
for the countries of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi, Lake 
Superior and the Northwest ; and here the return, in furs, was 
collected and embarked for Montreal. 

Henry was not released from the visits and admonitions of the 
inhabitants of the fort before he received the equivocal intelli- 
gence that the whole band of Chippewas, from the Island of Mich- 
ilimackinac, was arrived, with the intention of paying him a visit. 
There was in the fort a Mr. Farley, an interpreter, lately in the 

eight years of age he was taken from the district school and placed at 
work on his father's farm, and from that time until he was nineteen 
years of age he seldom received over a month or six weeks' schooling 
during the year, and that in the winter season, when his services could 
not be made available on the farm. At the age of nineteen his health 
failed him to such an extent that he could not perform the laborious 
duties of a farmer, and, consequently, he enjoyed the benefits of an eleven 
weeks' term at the seminary, in Ypsilanti. He taught school the follow- 
ing winter, and worked on the farm the two succeeding summers, 
attending the Ypsilanti seminary during the fall terms of those years. 

In the spring of 1853, Mr. Huston entered the office of Hon. C. Joslin, 
of Ypsilanti, as a law student. At this time he was destitute of all pecu- 
niary assistance, and had to rely entirely upon his own resources to 
acquire the desired knowledge. He, however, pushed his legal studies 
diligently, and was admitted to the bar at Ann Arbor in September, 1854. 

At the time he was reading law he married Miss Nancy J. Vought, of 
Superior township, Washtenaw county, Mich. 

In the spring of 1855 he removed from Ypsilanti to Tuscola county, 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 179 

employ of the French commandant. He had married a Chippewa 
woman, and was said to possess great influence over the nation to 
which his wife belonged. Doubtful as to the kind of visit which 
he was about to receive, Henry sent for this interpreter, and 
requested, first, that he would have the kindness to be present at 
the interview ; and, secondly, that he would inform him of the 
intention of the band. Mr. Farley agreed to be present ; and, as 
to the object of the visit, replied, that it was consistent with a uni- 
form custom, that a stranger, on his arrival, should be waited 
upon and welcomed by the chiefs of the nation, who, on their 
part, always gave a small present, and always expected a large 
one; but as to the rest, declared himself unable to answer for 
the particular views of the Chippewas on this occasion, he 
being an Englishman, and the Indians having made no treaty with 
the English. He thought there might be danger, the Indians 
having protested that they would not suffer an Englishman to 
remain in their part of the country. This information was far 
from agreeable ; but there was no resource except in fortitude and 
patience. 

At two o'clock in the afternoon, the Chippewas visited Mr. 
Henry, at his house, about sixty in number, and headed by Mina- 

and settled ia the town of Vassar, where he still resides. When he 
reached Vassar he found himself in a county that was almost an unbroken 
wilderness, having only two thousand inhabitants inside its boundaries. 
His possessions consisted of ninety dollars worth of law books, a loving 
wife, and several hundred dollars of debts. This was rather a discour- 
aging start in life, but Mr. Huston showed himself equal to the heavy 
task before him. He received the appointment of prosecuting attorney 
for his county, at a salary of $150 a year, and with this, and what he 
earned by hard work at his profession, succeeded in maintaining himself 
for several years, until his county grew, and his practice with it. 

From the time of attaining his majority until the breaking out of the 
rebellion, Mr. Huston acted with the Democratic party. In 1856 he 
received the nomination of prosecuting attorney of his county from that 
party, but the county being strongly Republican, he was defeated. In 
1858 he was elected prosecuting attorney and circuit court commissioner 
on the Democratic ticket, although that party was still in the minority. 
At the following election he was defeated for the same office by only 



180 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

vavana, their chief. They walked in single file, each with his 
tomahawk in one hand and scalping-knife in the other. Their 
bodies were naked from the waist upward, except in a few 
instances, where blankets were thrown loosely over their shoulders. 
Their faces were painted with charcoal, worked up with grease ; 
their bodies with white clay, in patterns of various fancies. Some 
had feathers thrust through their noses, and their heads decorated 
with the same. It is not proper to dwell here on the sensations 
with which Henry beheld the approach of this uncouth, if not 
frightful assemblage. 

The chief entered first, and the rest followed, without noise. 
On receiving a sign from the former, the latter seated themselves 
on the floor. Minavavana appeared to be about fifty years of age. 
He was six feet in height, and had in his countenance an inde- 
scribable mixture of good and evil. Looking steadfastly at 
Henry, where he sat — with an interpreter on either side, and several 
Canadians behind him — he entered at the same time into conversa- 
tion with Campion, Henry's friend, inquiring how long it was 
since Mr. Henry left Montreal, and observing that the English, as 
it would seem, were brave men, and not afraid of death, since 
they dared to come, as Henry had done, fearlessly among their 
enemies. 

twenty-one votes. At this election lie supported Stephen A. Douglass for 
the presidency, but has not acted with the Democratic party since. 

In 18G2, at the request of the war committee of his county, he raised 
and organized Co. " D," of the 28d Michigan Infantry Volunteers, and 
went out with it as captain. He started for the seat of war on the 18th 
of September, 1862, and remained with the regiment until the winter of 
1865. Capt. Huston was in active service in many of the most important 
engagements during the war, among which were Morgan's raid, the battle 
of Campbell's Station, and the siege of Knoxville. He was engaged in 
the whole campaign in East Tennessee, and was with Gen. Sherman in 
the campaign against Atlanta. Being previously promoted to major, 
and owing to the sickness of Col. Spaulding, he was in command of the 
regiment during the greater portion of this canipaign. Major Huston 
took an active part in the engagements around Lost Mountain and at 
Resaca. At the latter place he displayed great courage, remaining on the 
field after all the men and oflBcers had retreated to the cover of the woods. 
With the exception of two short leaves of absence of twenty days each. 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 181 

The Indians now gravely smoked their pipes, while Henry 
inwardly endured 'the torture of suspense. At length, the pipes 
being finished, as well as a long pause by which they were suc- 
ceeded, Minavavana, taking a few strings of wampum in his hand, 
began the following speech : 

" Englishman, it is to you that I speak, and I demand your 
attention. Englishman, you know that the French king is our 
father. He promised to be such, and we, in return, promised to be 
his children. This promise we have kept. Englishman, it is you 
that have made war with this our father. You are his enemies, 
and how, then, could you have the boldness to venture among us, 
his children ? You know that his enemies are ours. Englishman, 
we are informed that our father, the King of France, is old and 
infirm, and that, being fatigued with making war with your nation, 
he has fallen asleep. During his sleep, you have taken advantage 
of him, and possessed yourselves of Canada. But his nap is almost 
at an end. I think I hear him already stirring and inquiring for 
his children, the Indians ; and when he does awake, what must 
become of you? He will destroy you utterly. Englishman, 
although you have conquered the French, you have not yet con- 
quered us ! We are not your slaves ! These lakes, these woods 
and mountains, were left to us by our ancestors. They are our 

one of which was on account of injuries, Mr. Huston was not absent 
from duty a single day from the time he entered the service until he left 
the same, in January, 1865. 

In the spring of 1865, he returned to Vassar, and again renewed the 
practice of his profession. In 1866 he was elected circuit court commis- 
sioner of his county, which position he soon after resigned. He was 
elected a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention in 1867, without 
opposition. In this convention he succeeded in winning the confidence 
and esteem of his associates. In the fall of 1868 he was elected as a 
Representative to the State Legislature by a large majority, and served 
as chairman of the committee on public lands, being also a member of 
the judiciary committee. Mr. Huston was reelected to the House in 1870, 
and was a prominent candidate for the speakership before the Republican 
caucus, being defeated by only one ballot, and that in the absence of a 
number of his friends. He served as speaker pro tern of the House during 
the sessions of 1869 and 1871-3, and was chairman of the judiciary com- 
mittee during the latter session. As a member of the Constitutional 



182 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

inheritance, and we will part with them to none. Your nation 
supposes that we, like the white people, cannot live without bread, 
and pork, and beef. But you ought to know that He, the Great 
Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us in these spacious 
lakes, and on these woody mountains. 

" Englishman, our father, the King of France, has employed our 
young men to make war upon your nation. In this warfare many 
of them have been killed, and it is our custom to retaliate, until 
such time as the spirits of the slain are satisfied. But the spirits 
of the slain are to be satisfied in either of two ways : the first is 
by the spilling of the blood of the nation by Avhich they fell ; the 
other, by covering the bodies of the dead, and thus allaying the 
resentment of their relations. This is done by making presents. 

" Englishman, your king has never sent us any presents, nor 
entered into any treaty with us, wherefore he and we are still at 
war ; and until be does these things, we must consider that we have 
no other father or friend among the white men but the King of 
France. But, for you, we have taken into consideration that you 
have ventured your life among us in the expectation that we 
should not molest you. You do not come armed, with an inten- 
tion to make war ; you come in peace, to trade with us, and supply 

Convention and the Legislature, Mr. Huston was one of the most untir- 
ing and faithful workers in those bodies, never being absent from roll 
call of either of them during their entire sessions. He was one of the 
managers in the impeachment trial of Commissioner Edmonds, and he is 
said to have made the most convincing speech, from the facts that were 
proven, that was made on the part of the prosecution. He was one of 
the delegates to the Republican National Convention, which met in 
Philadelphia, in 1873, and nominated General Grant for a second term of 
the presidency. 

As a lawyer, he has been remarkably successful, and although he 
started in a new country, and under very discouraging circumstances, he 
has, through the dint of hard labor, built up a large and lucrative prac- 
tice. 

As a man, he is social and pleasant in his intercourse with his fellow 
men. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and superin- 
tendent of their Sunday school. He contributes freely to all charitable 
and religious purposes, and lias the entire confidence of the community in 
which he resides. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



183 



US with necessaries, of whicli we are much in want. We shall 
regard you, therefore, as a brother ; and you may sleep tranquilly, 
without fear of the Chippewas. As a token of our friendship, we 
present you this pipe to smoke." 




RAY HADDOCK. 

Ray Haddock, county clerk of Wayne county, was born in Herkimer 
county. New York, in the year 1815. He early manifested a strong pre- 
dilection for tlie "art preservative of all arts," and commenced liis appren- 
ticeship in a printing office, in Little Falls, in 1880, closing it in Columbus, 
Ohio, whither he went with his parents, in 1832. He worked as a 
journeyman printer in Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, New 
Orleans, Natchez, Jackson and Clinton, Mississippi ; established the 
Republican at Brandon, in the same State, in 1837; returned north in 1839, 
and was connected successfully with the Cincinnati Message, Ohio States- 
man, Cleveland Times, and Sandusky Mirror; came to Detroit in April, 
1857, and accepted the position of commercial editor of the Detroit Tri- 
bune, continuing in the same capacity upon the Advertiser and Tribune, after 
the consolidation of the two journals, a position which lie resigned in 
1866, to accept a situation upon the Detroit Post. Mr. Haddock was 
appointed secretary of the Detroit Board of Trade in 1860, which 
appointment he held for nearly 13 years, tendering his resignation in the 



184 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

As the chief uttered these words, an Indian presented Henry 
with a pipe, which, after he had drawn the smoke three times, was 
carried to the chief, and after him to every person in the room. 
This ceremony ended, the chief arose, and gave Henry his hand, 
in which he was followed by all the rest. Being again seated, the 
chief requested that his young men might be allowed to taste what 
he called Henry's English milk (meaning rum), observing that it 
was long since they had tasted any, and that they were very desi- 
rous to know whether or not there was any difi'erence between the 
English milk and the French. 

Henry's former adventures with Indians had left an impression 
on his mind which made him tremble when Indians asked for rum, 
and he would, therefore, have willingly excused himself in this 
particular ; but, being informed that it was customary to comply 
with the request, and, withal, satisfied with the friendly declara- 
tions which he had received, he promised to give them a small cask 
at parting. After this, Henry, by the aid of an interpreter, made 
a reply to the speech of the chief, declaring that it was the good 
character, which had been reported to him, of the Indians, that 
had emboldened him to go among them ; that their late father, 
the King of France, had surrendered Canada to the King of Eng- 
land, whom they ought to regard now as their father, and who 
would be as careful of them as the other had been. 

Henry continued his speech at some length, and, at the parting, 
distributed a small quantity of rum among the Indians. 

Henry now imagined himself free from cause for anxiety, as to 
the treatment which he was to receive from the Indians. He 
assorted his goods which he had taken with him, and hired Cana- 
dian interpreters and clerks, in whose care he was to send them 
into various parts of the country. Everything was ready for their 
departure, when new dangers sprang up and threatened to over- 
whelm him. This new danger came from a village of the Otta- 
was. Nearly everything was in readiness for the departure of the 
goods, when accounts of the approach of two hundred warriors 

fall of 1872, having been nominated as the Republican candidate for 
county clerk, to which office he was elected in November of the same 
year. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 



185 



was received. They assembled in the house which had been built 
for the commandant, and ordered Henry's attendance, and also 
that of the other merchants who had already joined him from 
Montreal, viz : Stanley Godderd and Ezekiel Solomons. 




HON. GEORGE H. DURAND. 

The subject of this sketch is one of the prominent and well known 
young men of Michigan, and is properly classed among those who, Avith 
large natural gifts, that have been utilized and strengthened by con- 
tinued and well rewarded labor, have done so much to give character to 
our beautiful peninsula, and whose sterling qualities have demanded 
and received esteem, respect and acknowledgment. Mr. Durand was 
born at Cobleskill, Schoharie county, New York, in 1838. His educa- 
tion was acquired through his own exertions entirely, his vacations being 



186 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

After these men had entered the council room and taken their 
seats, one of the chiefs commenced an address, which he concluded 
as follows : " Englishmen, we see your canoes ready to depart, 
and find your men engaged for the Mississij^pi, and other distant 
regions. Under these circumstances, we have considered the affair, 
and you are now sent for that you may hear our determination, 
which is, that you shall give to each of our men, young and old, 
merchandise and ammunition to the amount of fifty beaver skins, 
on credit, and for which I have no doubt of their paying you in 
the summer, on their return from the wintering." 

A compliance with this demand would have stripped them of 
nearly all their resources. They, therefore, tried to lessen the 

employed in earning the necessary means to enable him to prosecute his 
studies. He removed to Michigan in 1856, and like many of our promi- 
nent citizens, Mr. Durand, at the time of his arrival in this State, possessed 
neither friends, influence or wealth. His future was an enigma to be 
solved only by passing years — to be solved, not by impotent resolve nor 
errant purpose, but by that strong and indefatigable will, which overcomes 
difficulties and dangers, and which is certain to bring to the man of intel- 
lect that meed of success which is the test of merit. 

Very soon after his arrival here he commenced the study of the law, 
and after pursuing his studies with great diligence, he was admitted to 
to the bar in 1858, when he immediately located in the enterprising city 
of Flint, where he has ever since resided. A young lawyer, under the 
most favorable auspices, has much to contend with, but j^oung Durand, 
with no capital and no friends or influence at Flint, had still more than 
is usual to combat. He was brought in professional contact with such 
men as the late Hon. Wm. M. Fenton, Hon. Wm. Newton, the late Hon. 
Levi Walker and other distinguished lawyers, whose names are well 
known in the best legal circles of the State, and who had grown gi'ay in 
the arduous labors of the courts ; but he persisted, and by his courteous 
and gentlemanly manners, his clear perception and great good judg- 
ment, he gained not only the respect of his brothers in the profession but 
also the confidence of the community, and his future as a lawyer was 
thus assured. For fifteen j^ears Mr. Durand has followed his profession, 
devoting himself to it with much earnestness and industry, and has 
acquired a large and lucrative practice. 

With politics he has had as little to do as is possible for a man of his 
ardent nature and his clear ideas of right and wrong. His sentiments, 
perhaps, more nearly affiliate with the Democracy of the conservative 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 187 

demand ; but was informed that all had been said that would be 
said, and were given till the next day for reflection. The assur- 
ance was also offered them that if the demand was not complied 
with, their goods would be taken by force. 

They then retired for consultation. In the evening, Farley, the 
interpreter, informed them that their massacre had been determined 
upon, and advised them to accede to the demand. But this they 
determined not to do, as they suspected the interpreter of a design 
to prey upon their fears, and drive them from the post. They then 
barricaded their house, armed about thirty of their followers, and 
slept upon their arms. They were not molested, however, but the 
next morning were summoned to another council, which they 
refused to attend. There were none without in whom they had 

school than with any other party; still, he may not be reckoned as a 

party man in the strictest sense. He was an ardent advocate of the war 
for the suppression of the rebellion, and has always been eminently 
patriotic in his views. Although preferring to remain in private life, 
attending to the ordinary duties of his profession, his ability and counsel 
have been sought after in other capacities, and, as a consequence, he has 
for years taken an active and leading part in public matters, political and 
otherwise, in his section of the State. He has often been nominated and 
frequently elected to office, always running largely ahead of his ticket, 
and at the municipal election held in Flint, in April, 1873, although run- 
ning on the Democratic ticket, and against a worthy competitor, he was 
elected mayor of that strongly republican city by a majority greater than 
was ever given to any public officer in that place. This responsible office 
he now holds, as well as that of D. D. G. M. , in the Masonic fraternity, 
for the eighth Masonic district of Michigan. In all of his official posi- 
tions he invariably conducts himself with moderation and.good judgment, 
while his advice is peculiarly winning and convincing, and his personal 
character admirable. Mr. Durand, although but thii ty-five years of age, 
has made for himself a record which is indeed an enviable one, and what- 
ever of prominence or success, whether in his profession or the more 
liberal pursuits, whether in the political field or the world of letters, shall 
attend him in the future, it will be, as in the past, the result of a steady 
determination on his part to do whatever he undertakes in a careful, 
painstaking and intelligent manner, united with a special gift of unusual 
ability, whether as writer, orator or counselor. The lesson of his life 
may be easily gathered from a knowledge of its character, a study of its 
purposes, and a familiarity with its accomplishments. 



188 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

any confidence, save Campion. From him they learned, from time 
to time, whatever was rumored among the Canadian inhabitants 
as to the designs of the Ottawas, and from him, toward sunset, 
they received the gratifying intelligence that a detachment of 
British soldiers, sent to garrison Miehilimackinac, was distant only 
five miles, and would enter the fort early the next morning. 
Near at hand, however, as relief was reported to be, their anxiety 
could not but be great, for a long night was to be passed, and their 
fate might be decided before the next morning. To increase their 
apprehension, about midnight they were informed that the Ottawas 
were holding a council, at which no white man was permitted to 
be present, Farley alone excepted ; and him they suspected, and 
afterwards knew to be their greatest enemy. The Englishmen, 
on their part, remained all night upon the alert ; but at daybreak, 
to their surprise and joy, t}iey saw the Ottawas preparing to depart. 
By sunrise, not a man of them was left in the fort. The inhabit- 
ants, who, while the Ottawas were present, had avoided all con- 
nection with these Englishmen, now came with congratulations. 
They related that the Ottawas had proposed to them that, if joined 
by the Canadians, they would march and attack the troops, which 
were known to be advancing on the fort ; and they added that 
it was their refusal which had determined the Ottawas to depart. 

At noou, three hundred troops of the Sixtieth Regiment, under 
command of Lieutenant Leslie, marched into the fort. This 
arrival dissipated all the fears the Englishmen had, and somewhat 
reversed their position in regard to the French. After a few days, 
detachments were sent into the Bay des Puans, by which was the 
route to the Mississippi, and at the mouth of St. Joseph, which led 
to the Illinois. The Indians from all quarters were eager to pay 
their respects to the commandant ; and the three English mer- 
chants dispatched their canoes, though it was late in the season. 

We will now leave Miehilimackinac to notice events elsewhere, 
but will return at the proper point, and resume our account of the 
adventures of Mr. Henry and his associates, of which the most 
thrilling part is yet to come. Interwoven with this narrative will 
also be found a true account of the massacres and barbaric wars 
in and around this northern fort. 



CHAPTER XII. 



Hostility Between the Indians and the English — Its Cause 
Explained — The Indians Rising to Drive the English from 
THE Country — Pontiac's Message — The Council and Speech in 
WHICH THE Conspiracy is Matured — The War. 

It must not be supposed that the hostility between the Indians 
and the English was confined to Michilimackinac. France had 
scarcely yielded up her claim to the country, when smothered 
murmurs of discontent began to be audible among the Indian 
tribes throughout the entire Northwest. In every wigwam and 
hamlet of the forest a deep-rooted hatred of the English increased 
with rapid growth. Nor is this to be wondered at. " We have 
seen with what sagacious policy," says Parkman, " the French had 
labored to ingratiate themselves with the Indians ; and the 
slaughter of the Monongahela, with the horrible devastation of the 
Western frontier, the outrages perpetrated at Oswego, and the 
massacre at Fort William Henry, bore witness to the success of 
their efforts. Even the DelaAvares and Shawanoes, the faithful 
allies of William Penn, had at length been seduced by their blan- 
dishments ; and the Iroquois, the ancient enemies of Canada, had 
half forgotten their former hostility, and well nigh taken part 
against the British colonists. The remote nations of the West had 
also joined in the war, descending in their canoes for hundreds of 
miles to fight against the enemies of France. All these tribes 
entertained towards the English that rancorous enmity which an 
Indian always feels against them to whom he has been opposed in 
war." 

It would seem that, under these circumstances, the English 
would have used the utmost care in their conduct towards the 
Indians. But, even when the conflict with the French was impend- 
ing, and the alliance with the Indian tribes was of the greatest 



190 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

importance, they treated them with careless indifference and 
neglect. They were not likely to adopt a different course now 
that their friendship seemed a matter of no consequence. In 
truth, the intentions of the English were soon apparent. The fol- 
lowing paragraphs, from Parkmau's Conspiracy of Pontiac, car- 
ries us to the point I desire to reach so admirably, that I will 
take the liberty to use them : 

" In the zeal for retrenchment which prevailed after the close 
of hostilities, the presents which it had always been customary to 
give the Indians, at stated intervals, were either withheld alto- 
gether, or doled out with a niggardly hand ; while, to make the 
matter worse, the agents and officers of the government often 
appropriated the presents to themselves, and afterwards sold them 
at an exorbitant price to the Indians. When the French had pos- 
session of these remote forts, they were accustomed, with a wise lib- 
erality, to supply the surrounding Indians with guns, ammunition 
and clothing, until the latter had forgotten the weapons and gar- 
ments of their forefathers, and depended on the white man for 
support. The sudden withholding of these supplies was, there- 
fore, a grievous calamity. Want, suffering and death were the 
consequences ; and this cause alone would have been enough to 
produce general discontent. But, unhappily, other grievances 
were added. The English fur trade had never been well regu- 
lated, and it was now in a worse condition than ever. Many of 
the traders and those in their employ were ruffians of the coarsest 
stamp, who vied with each other in rapacity, violence and profli- 
gacy. They cheated, cursed and plundered the Indians, and out- 
raged their families ; offering, when compared with the French 
traders, who were under better regulation, a most unfavorable 
example of the character of their nation. The officers and sol- 
diers of the garrison did their full part in exciting the general 
resentment. Formerly, when the warriors came to the forts, they 
had been welcomed by the French with attention and respect. 
The inconvenience which their presence occasioned had been dis- 
regarded, and their peculiarities overlooked, but now they were 
received with cold looks and harsh words by the officers ; and, 
as we have already noticed, at Michilimackinac, which, as we now 



192 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

observe, was no exception to the general rule of the whole western 
country, with oaths and ofttimes blows from the more reckless of 
the garrison. When, after their troublesome and intrusive fash- 
ion, they were lounging everywhere about the fort, or lazily reclin- 
ing in the shadow of the walls, they were met with muttered ejac- 
ulations of impatience, or abrupt orders to be gone, enforced, 
perhaps, by a touch from the butt of a sentinel's musket. These 
marks of contempt were unspeakably galling to their haughty 
spirit." 

But what most contributed to the growing discontent of the 
tribes was the intrusion of settlers upon their lands, which was at 
all times a fruitful source of Indian hostility. Its effects, it is 
true, could only be felt by those whose country bordered upon the 
English settlements ; but among these were the most powerful and 
influential of the tribes. The discontent of the Indians gave 
great satisfaction to the French, who saw in it an assurance of safe 
and bloody vengeance on their conquerors. Canada, it is true, 
was gone beyond the hope of recovery ; but they still might hope 
to revenge its loss. Interest, moreover, as well as passion, 
prompted them to inflame the resentment of the Indians ; for 
most of the inhabitants of the French settlements upon the lakes 
and the Mississippi were engaged in the fur trade, and, fearing the 
English as formidable rivals, they would gladly have seen them 
driven from the country. Traders and all classes of this singular 
population accordingly dispersed themselves among the villages of 
the Indians, or held councils with them in the secret places of 
the woods, urging them to take up arms against the English . 
They exhibited the conduct of the latter in its worst light, and 
spared neither misrepresentation nor falsehood. 

It is difficult to determine which tribe was the first to raise the 
cry of war. There were many who might have done so, for all 
the savages in the backwoods were ripe for an outbreak, and the 
movement seemed almost simultaneous. The Delawares and Sene- 
cas were the most incensed, and Kiashuta, chief of the latter, was, 
perhaps, forcunost. It, however, required a greater chief than he 
to give method and order to what would else have been a wild 
burst of fury. But for Pontiac, the whole might have ended in a 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 



193 



few troublesome inroads upon the frontier, and a little whooping 
and yelling under the walls of Fort Pitt. 

There has been some dispute as to the nationality of Pontiac. 
Some hold that he was a member of the tribe of the Sacs or Loa- 




F. G. RUSSELL. 

Frank G. Russell, the present city attorney of Detroit, was born in 
Green Oak, Livingston county, Micliigan, in- April, 1837. His father was 
a farmer, and Mr. Russell spent his youth at home, assisting in agricul- 
tural pursuits. He had all the advantages of a common school, and was 
at an early age sent to the State Normal School, at which institution he 
graduated in the spring of 1858. He was principal of the Lansing Union 
School from the autumn of 1858 to the spring of 1861, when he resigned 
the position to accept a situation in the Interior Department at Washing- 
13 



194 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

kies, but by far the greater number have placed him among the 
Ottawas. His home was about eight miles above Detroit, on 
Peehee Island, which looks out upon the waters of Lake St. Clair. 
His form was cast in the finest mould of savage grace and strength, 
and his eye seemed capable of penetrating, at a glance, the secret 
motives that actuated the savage tribes around him. His rare 
personal qualities, his courage, resolution, wisdom, address and 
eloquence, together with the hereditary claim to authority which, 
according to Indian custom, he possessed, secured for him the 
esteem of both the French and the English, and gave him an 
influence among the lake tribes greater than that of any other 
individual. Early in life he distinguished himself as a chieftain 
of no ordinary ability. In 1746 he commanded a powerful body 
of Indians, mostly Ottawas, who gallantly defended the i^eople of 
Detroit against the formidable attack of several combined north- 
ern tribes, and it is supposed that he was present at the disastrous 
defeat of Braddock, in which several hundred of his warriors were 
engaged. He had always, at least up to the time when Major 
Rogers came into the country, been a firm friend of the French, 
and received many marks of esteem from the French officer. Mar- 
quis de Montcalm. 

How could he, then, the bravest chief of the great West, do 

] 

ton, D. C. He was engaged in the last mentioned capacity, principally 
as examiner of pension claims, from the spring of 18G1 to the summer of 
1864, when he resigned and came to Detroit. He was successfully 
engaged at the latter place for two years in the prosecution of war claims, 
and in 1866 returned to his home in Green Oak, and assumed .charge of 
his father's farm, remaining there until the autumn of 1867, when he 
returned to Detroit, and commenced the study of law. He was admitted 
to the bar in the Supreme Court in October, 1868, and commenced the 
practice of law in the following spring. 

In the practice of law, Mr. Russell has met with substantial success. 
Being favorably known in tlie whole State, both for ability and integrity, 
he immediately came into public favor, and has found unceasing demand 
for his professional labors. In tiie spring of 1869 he was appointed pri- 
vate secretary to Governor H P. Baldwin, holding this position till the 
inauguration of Governor Bagley, January 1, 187:}. He was elected city 
attorney of Detroit in 1871. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 195 

otherwise than dispute the English claim to his country ? How 
could he endure the sight of this people driving the game from 
his hunting grounds, and his friends and allies from the lands 
they had so long possessed? When he heard that Rogers was 
advancing along the lakes to take possession of his country, his 
indignation knew no bounds, and he at once sent deputies, request- 
ing him to halt until such time as he could see him. Flattering 
words and fair promises induced him, at length, to extend the 
hand of friendship to Rogers. He was inclined to live peaceably 
with the English, and to encourage their settling in the country, 
as long as they treated him as he deserved ; but if they treated 
him with neglect, he would shut up the way and exclude them 
from it. He did not consider himself a conquered prince, but he 
expected to be treated with the respect and honor due to a king. 
While a system of good management might have allayed 
every suspicion, and engendered peace and good-will, a want of 
cordiality increased the discontent, and Pontiac soon saw that the 
fair promises which had been made him were but idle words. The 
Indians were becoming more and more dissatisfied, and he began 
seriously to apprehend danger from the new government and peo- 
ple. He saw in the English a boundless ambition to possess them- 
selves of every military position on the northern waters, an 
ambition which plainly indicated to his far-reaching sagacity that 
soon, nothing less than undisputed possession of all his vast 
domain would satisfy them. He saw in them a people superior in 
arms, but utterly destitute of that ostensible cordiality, personally, 
to which his people had been accustomed during the golden age 
of French dominion, and which they were apt to regard as neces- 
sary indications of good faith. There seemed no disposition for 
national courtesy, individual intercourse, or beneficial commerce 
of any kind. All those circumstances which made the neighbor- 
hood of the French agreeable, and which might have made their 
own at least tolerable, they neglected. Their conduct never gave 
rest to suspicion, while that of the French never gave rise to it. 
Hence, the Indians felt that they had " no father among the white 
men but the King of France," and Pontiac resolved, as he had 
threatened, to " shut up the way." His plan was to make a con- 



196 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

temporaueous assault upon all the British posts, and thus effec- 
tually extinguish the English power at a single blow. This was 
a stroke of policy that evinced an extraordinary genius, and 
demanded for its successful execution an energy and courage of the 
highest order. But Pontiac was fully equal to the task. He was 
as skillful in executing as he was bold in planning. He knew that 
success would multii^ly friends and allies, but friends and allies 
were necessary to insure success. 

First, then, a council must be called, and, for this purpose, at 
the close of 1762, he sent out his ambassadors to all the different 
nations. With the war-belt of wampum, and the tomahawk, 
stained red in token of war, these swift-footed messengers went 
from camp to camp, and from village to village, throughout the 
north, south, east and west, and in whatever tribe they appeared, 
the sachems assembled to hear the words of Pontiac. The mes- 
sage was everywhere heard with approbation, the war-belt accepted, 
and the hatchet seized, as an indication that the assembled chiefs 
stood pledged to take part in the war. 

The Grand Council assembled on the twenty-seventh day of 
April, 1763, on the banks of the little river Ecorse, not far from 
Detroit. The pipe went round, and Pontiac stepped forth, plumed 
and painted in the full costume of war. He called into requisi- 
tion all the eloquence and cunning of which he was master. He 
appealed to their fears, their hopes, their ambition, their cupidity, 
their hatred of the English, and their love for their old friends, 
the French. He displayed to them a belt, which he said the 
King of France had sent him, urging him to drive the English 
from the country, and open the way for the return of the French. 
He painted in glowing colors the common interests of their race, 
and called upon them to make a stand against a common foe. He 
told them of a dream, in which the Great Manitou had appeared 
to a chief of the Abenakis, saying : " I am the Maker of heaven 
and earth, the trees, lakes, rivers, and all things else. I am the 
Maker of mankind ; and because I love you, you must do my will. 
The land on which you live I have made for you, and not for 
others. Why do you suffer the white man to dwell among you ? 
My children, you have forgotten the customs and traditions of 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



197 



your forefathers. Why do you not clothe yourselves in skins, as 
they did, and use the bows and arrows, and the stone-pointed 
lances which they used ? You have bought guns, knives, kettles, 
and blankets from the white men, until you can no longer do with- 




HON. A. F. R. BRALEY. 

Alfred F. R. Bralet, of Saginaw City, was born October 20, 1828, 
at Albion, Orleans county, N. Y. He received an academic education at 
his native place, and studied law four years with Church & Davis, who 
have a national reputation as jurists. He attended lectures at the Albany 
Law School, and at a general term of the Supreme Court at Albany, in 
1852, was admitted to the bar. In the spring of the following year he 
commenced practice at Toledo, Ohio. Ill health induced him to spend 
the winter of 1853-4 in the South, and suspended his labors for a period 
of five years. He returned discouraged to Albion. He was justice of 



198 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

out them ; and, what is worse, you have drunk the poison fire- 
water which turns you into fools. Fling all these things away ; 
live as your wise forefathers lived before you ; and, as for these 
English — these dogs dressed in red, who have come to rob you of 
your hunting grounds and drive away the game — you must lift the 
hatchet against them. Wipe them from the face of the earth, and 
then you will win my favor back again, and once more be happy 
and prosperous. The children of your great father, the King of 
France, are not like the English. Never forget that they are 
your brothers. They are very dear to me, for they love the red 
men, an'd understand the true mode of worshiping me." 

Such an appeal to the passions and prejudices of credulous and 
excited savages was well calculated to produce the desired efiect. 
If the Great Spirit was with them, it was impossible to fail. 
Other speeches were doubtless made, and, before the council broke 
up, the scheme was well matured. 

Thus was the crisis hastening on. While every principle of 
revenge, ambition and patriotism in the savage was thus being 
roused up to the ^highest pitch, and the tomahawk was already 
lifted for the blow, scarce a suspicion of the savage design found 
its way to the minds of the English. Occasionally, an English 
trader would see something in their behavior which caused him to 
suspect mischief, or some scoundrel half-breed would be heard 

the peace there from 1859 to the spring of 1862, when he came to the 
City of Saginaw. Here his healtli being reestablished, he engaged in the 
manufacture of salt until 1866. He then opened a private banking office 
in company with Harry and Wm. M. Miller, under the name of Miller, 
Braley & Co. They did a successful business until their concern was 
merged in tlie First National Bank of Saginaw, of which Mr. B. has 
since been the cashier. 

He has served two terms as recorder of the city of Saginaw, and three 
terms as mayor. 

He is a gentleman of excellent business qualifications; he is honest and 
universally recognized as honest. Socially he is popular and entertaining. 
He is a good listener and a good talker; he can tell a good story, and 
when he does relate an anecdote, the moral is apparent, and the listener 
knows where the "laugh comes in." No man in Saginaw has more 
friends. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 199 

boasting that, before the next summer, he would have English 
hair to fringe his hunting frock ; but these things caused no alarm. 
Once, however, the plot was nearly discovered. A friendly Indian 
told the commander of Fort Miami that a war-belt had been sent 
to the warriors of a neighboring village, and that the destruction 
of himself and garrison had been resolved upon ; but, when 
information of this had been conveyed to Major Gladwyn, of 
Detroit, that officer wrote to General Amherst, stating that, in his 
opinion, there had been some irritation among the Indians, but 
that the affair would soon blow over ; and that, in the neighbor- 
hood of his own fort all was tranquil. Amherst thought that the 
acts of the Indians were unwarrantable, and hoped they would be 
too sensible to their own interests to conspire against the English ; 
he wished them to know that if they did, in his opinion, they 
would make a " contemptible figure." He asserted that they 
would be the sufferers, and, in the end, it would result in their 
destruction. 

But the English were deluded. Almost Avithin rifle-shot of 
Gladwyn's quarters was Pontiac, the arch-enemy of the English 
and the prime mover in the plot, and the sequel proved how " con- 
temptible " was the figure which the savages made. 

The work of extirpation soon began, and extended from north 
to south, and from east to west. Numbers of English traders, on 
their way from all quarters of the country to the different posts, 
were taken, and their goods made the prize of the conquerors. 
Large bodies of savages were seen collecting around the different 
forts ; yet, strange to say, without creating any serious alarm. 
When the blow was struck, nine out of twelve of the British posts 
were surprised and destroyed ! It will, doubtless, be interesting to 
notice in detail these surpri.jes, three of which properly come 
within the scope of the History of Michigan. 



CHAPTER XIIL 



MiCHILlMACKINAC— DeSCKIPTION OF THE PlACE IN 1703 — ASSEMBLING 

OF Hostile Indians Around Michilimackinac — Adventckes of 
AN English Trader — The Indians Preparing for the Massa- 
cre — The Game of Ball Commenced. 

Before entering upon an account of the massacre at Fort 
Michilimackinac, we may, perhaps, entertain the reader with a 
short description of the place as it appeared just before the war 
broke out, in the spring of 1763. 

Michilimackinac Avas the most northern English port in the 
lake region. It was located on the extreme northern point of the 
Southern Peninsula of Michigan, on the site of the present city 
of Mackinaw. The fort stood near the water's edge, and near by 
was a cluster of white Canadian houses, roofed with bark, and 
protected by fences of strong round pickets. As the visitor 
entered the gate of the fort he could see before him an extensive 
square area, surrounded by high palisades. Numerous houses, 
barracks, and other buildings, formed a smaller square within, 
and in the vacant space which they inclosed, appeared the red 
uniforms of British soldiers, the gray coats of Canadians, and the 
gaudy Indian blankets, mingled in picturesque confusion, while a 
multitude of squaws, with children of every hue, strolled rest- 
lessly about the place. Such was Fort Michilimackinac in 1763. 
Though buried in the wilderness, it was still of no recent origin. 
As early as 1671 the Jesuits had established a mission of the same 
name on the northern side of the strait, and a military force was 
not long in following, for, under the French dominion, the priest 
and the soldier went hand in hand. Neither toil, nor suffering, 
nor all the terrors of the wilderness, could damp the zeal of the 
undaunted missionary ; and the restless ambition of France was 
always on the alert to seize every point of advantage, and avail 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 201 

itself of every means to gain ascendency over the forest tribes. 
Besides Miehilimackinac there were two other posts in the north- 
ern region, Green Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. Both were founded 
at an early period, and both presented the same characteristic 




DR. EDWARD W. JENKS. 

Edward W. Jenks, one of the leading medical professors of the State, 
was born in the town of Victor, Ontario county. New York, in 1833, 
where his father was a prominent business man at that time. In 1843, 
he, with his father, emigrated to Indiana, where tlie latter gentleman 
founded a town called Ontario, and endowed a collegiate institute called 
La Grange College. 

The principal part of Dr. Jenks' earlier years was passed in New York 
and Indiana, where he received his general education. His medical 
training was pursued at the Medical University of New York, until ill 



202 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

features — a mission house, a fort, and a cluster of Canadian dwel- 
lings. They had been originally garrisoned by small parties of 
militia, who, bringing their families with them, settled on the spot, 
and were the founders of these little colonies. Michilimaclcinac, 
much the largest of the three, contained thirty families within the 
palisades of the fort, and about as many more without. Besides 
its military value, it was important as the center of the fur trade, 
for it was here that the traders engaged their men, and sent out 
their goods in canoes, under the charge of subordinates, to the 
more distant regions of the Mississippi and the Northwest. 

The Indians near Michilimackinac were the Ojibwas and Otta- 
was, the former of whom claimed the eastern section of Michigan, 
and the lattei" the western ; their respective portions being sepa- 
rated by a line drawn southward from the fort itself The princi- 
pal village of the Ojibwas contained about a hundred warriors, 
and stood on the island of Michilimackinac, now called Mack- 
inaw. There was another smaller village near the head of Thun- 
der Bay. The Ottawas, to the number of two hundred and fifty 
warriors, lived at the settlement of L'Arbre Croche, on the shores 
of Lake Michigan, some distance southward from the fort. This 

health compelled him to make a change, when he went to Ver- 
mont, graduating from Castleton Medical College in 1855. Dr. Jenks, 
however, was determined to be proficient in his profession, and after- 
wards took an additional degree of medicine at Bellevue Hospital 
Medical College. After receiving this last degree, Dr. Jenks practiced 
medicine very successfully in New York and Indiana, where he made 
numerous professional friends. About this time, his health again failed, 
and his sufferings were such as compelled him to constantly change 
climate in order to retain his already shattered health. He, however, 
practiced his profession wherever his health permitted him to remain 
long enough, until 18(54, when he came to Michigan and settled in Detroit. 
In that city he at once acquired an extensive practice, and he has ever 
since been known throughout this State and those adjoining, for his 
remarkable success in the treatment of difficult diseases. 

He was one of the founders, in 18G8, of the Detroit Medical College, 
and has occupied the presidency in that institution since its organization, 
and besides holds the honorable position of Professor of Medical and 
Surgical Diseases of Women and Clinical Gj^najcology. He has worked 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 203 

place was then the seat of the old Jesuit mission of St. Ignace, 
originally placed by Father Marquette on the northern side of the 
straits. Many of the Ottawas were nominal Catholics. They 
were all somewhat improved from their original savage condition, 
living in log houses, and cultivating corn and vegetables, to such 
an extent as to supply the fort with provisions besides satisfying 
their own wants. The Ojibwas, on the other hand, were not in 
the least degree removed from their primitive barbarism. 

At this time both these tribes had received from Pontiac the 
war belt of black and purple wampum, and painted hatchet, and 
had pledged themselves to join in the contest. Before the end of 
May the Ojibwas, or Chippewas, received word that the blow had 
already been struck at Detroit, and, wrought up to the highest 
pitch of excitement and emulation, resolved that peace should 
last no longer. Eager to reap all the glory of the victory, or 
prompted by jealousy, this tribe neither communicated to the 
Ottawas the news which had come to them, nor their own resolu- 
tion to make an immediate assault upon Michilimackinac ; hence, 
the Ottawas, as we shall jaresently learn, had no part in that 
most bloody tragedy. There were other tribes, however, who, 

with DO ordinary amount of zeal to make the Detroit Medical College one 
of the leading institutions of that kind in the West, and the success of his 
efforts is shown in the very flattering report made by the committee 
appointed by tlie State Medical Society to examine into its condition. 
He was appointed surgeon of the department of diseases of women at 
St. Mary's Hospital in 1868. He was connected with Harper Hospital 
from its organization until 1872, when he resigned. Dr. Jenks ranks 
high as a surgeon in the Northwest, being called to practice this brancli 
of his profession over a large extent of territory. He is a prominent 
member of numerous medical societies, being Professor of Medical and 
Surgical Diseases of Women in Bowdoin College; a member of the Ameri- 
can Medical Association; corresponding member of the Gynaecological 
Society; President of the Detroit Academy of Medicine; an active mem- 
ber and President of the State Medical Society, and a member of a num- 
ber of other institutions. 

Dr. Jenks was one of the original publishers of the Detroit Review of 
Medicine and Pharmacy, filling the position of editor on that magazine for 
some time with marked ability. 



204 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

attracted by rumors of impending war, had gathered at Michili- 
mackinac, and who took part in the struggle. 

We will now return to the Englishman, Mr. Henry, whom we 
left at Michilimackinac, at the close of the previous chapter, and 
relate his adventures simultaneously with an account of the mas- 
sacre. 

The British having taken possession of the fort, Henry's fears 
were entirely dispersed, and he spent the winter at Michilimack- 
inac, amusing himself as best he could by hunting and fishing. 
But few of the Indians, he tells us, came to the fort, excepting 
two families. These families lived on a river five leagues below, 
and came occasionally with beaver flesh for sale. Their chief was 
an exception to the rule, for instead of being hostile towards the 
English, he was warmly attached to them. But, in this case, the 
exception proved the rule to a demonstration. He had been taken 
prisoner by Sir William Johnson, at the siege of Fort Niagara ; 
and had received from that intelligent ofiicer, his liberty, the 
medal usually presented to a chief, and the British flag. Won by 
these acts of unexpected kindness, he had returned to Michili- 
mackinac, full of praise of the English, and hoisted his flag 
over his lodge. This latter demonstration of his partiality nearly 
cost him his life ; his lodge was broken down, and his flag torn 
to pieces. The pieces he carefully gathered up and preserved 
with pious care, and whenever he visited the fort he drew them 
out and exhibited them. On these occasions it grew into a custom 
to give him as much liquor as he said was necessary to make him 
cry over the misfortune of losing his flag. The commandant 
would have given him another, but he thought he could not 
accept it without danger. 

Upon the opening of navigation, Mr. Henry left Michilimack- 
inac to visit the Sault Ste. Marie. Here he made the acquaintance 
of M. Cadotte, an interpreter, whose wife was a Chippewa, and, 
desirous of learning that language, he decided to spend the suc- 
ceeding winter in the family of his new found friend. Here, also, 
there was a small fort, and during the summer, a small detach- 
ment of troops, under the command of Lieutenant Jamette, 
arrived to garrison it. Late in the fall, however, a destructive 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



205 



fire, which consumed all the houses except Cadotte's, and all the 
fort supplies, made it necessary to send the garrison back to 
Michilimackinac. The few that were left at this place were now 
crowded into one small house, and compelled to gain a subsistence 




HON. SAMUEL D. PACE. 

Samuel D. Pace, of Port Huron, Mich., was born in the township of 
Yarmouth, Canada West, April 29, 1835. His father, a carpenter by 
trade, was a native of the State of New Jersey. His mother was a 
descendant of a New England family. 

During the winter months of his early boyhood, he attended the dis- 
trict school in the neighborhood where he was born, and in the summer 
season he was principally engaged with his father working as a carpenter. 
At the age of fifteen he removed with his father to Racine, Wisconsin, 
where he shipped as a sailor on the schooner Amelia. He followed a 



206 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES 

by hunting and fishing. Thus inuring themselves to hard- 
ships, a very good opportunity was afforded them of becoming 
familiar with the Chippewa tongue. Here Henry passed the 
second winter of his sojourn in the wilderness of the upper lakes. 
Early in the succeeding spring, 1763, he was visited by Sir Robert 
Dover, an English gentleman, who was on a " voyage of curios- 
ity," and with whom Henry again returned to Michilimackinac. 
Here he intended to remain until his clerks should come from the 
interior, and then go back to the Sault. 

When Henry reached Michilimackinac he found several other 
traders who had arrived before him, from different parts of the 
country, and who, in general, declared the dispositions of the 
Indians to be hostile to the English, and even apprehended some 
attack. One M. Laurent Ducharme distinctly informed Major 
Ethrington that a plan was absolutely conceived for destroying 
him, his garrison, and all the English in the upper country ; but 
the commandant believing this and other reports to be without 
foundation, proceeding only from idle or ill-disposed persons, and 
of a tendency to do mischief, expressed much displeasure against 
M. Ducharme, and threatened to send the next person who should 

sailor's life for two years on the lakes, and in the month of November, 
1852, while on board the sloop Ranger, was shipwrecked on Lake 
Michigan, a short distance south of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The vessel, 
after being tossed about three days and nights without rudder or sail, 
stranded and became a total loss. During this time lie suffered intensely 
from hunger and cold. His wardrobe, by no means extensive, was 
materially diminished by this misfortune, as most of his personal efiects 
shared the fate of the vessel, and he found himself on the streets of Mil- 
waukee without hat, boots or coat. His loss in this respect, however, 
was more than made good by a kind-hearted Jew, who look pity on the 
shivering sailor boy, and presented him with substitutes foj- the garments 
he had lost, making the characteristic remark," Dese cost jnni notting." 
It may be mentioned as a coincidence that at the time, Mr. Pace had just 
exactly nothing with which to pay for them. 

At school, he was invariably at the head of his class, and he also took 
the lead in most kinds of boyish mischief. As a school boy, he mani- 
fested a determination to succeed, which trait has never since left him. 
Although married at twenty-one years of age, he has never ceased to be 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 207 

bring a story of the same kind a prisoner to Detroit. The garri- 
son consisted at this time of thirty-five men with their officers. 
The white inhabitants of the fort numbered about one hundred, 
and but few entertained anxiety concerning the Indians, who 
had no weapons but small arms. Meanwhile the Indians from 
every quarter, were daily assembling in unusual numbers, but 
with every appearance of friendship, frequenting the fort and dis- 
posing of their peltries, in such a manner as to dissipate almost 
any one's fears. It was reported that not less than four hundred 
warriors were encamped near the fort. 

As I have promised, I shall associate the account of Henry's 
adventures with a rehearsal of the horrible massacre at the fort. 

Shortly after his first arrival at Miehilimackiuac, in the preced- 
ing year, a Chippewa, named Wawatam, began to go often to his 
house, betraying in his demeanor strong marks of personal regard. 
After this had continued for some time, he went, on a certain day, 
taking with him his whole family, and at the same time a large 
I^resent, consisting of skins, sugar and dried meat. Having laid 
these in a heap, he commenced a speech, in which he informed 
Henry that some years before, he had observed a fast, devoting him- 
self, according to the custom of his nation, to solitude and mortifi- 

a student. Medicine was always a favorite study with him, but owing to 
the up-hill road which poverty compelled liim to travel, he did not reach 
the acme of his ambition in this respect until 1860, when he commenced 
the practice of his profession in Port Huron, Michigan. As a physician 
he was eminently successful. 

In politics, Dr. Pace is a radical Republican, his first vote being cast for 
Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. In 1864, he agreed with President Lincoln 
that it was dangerous "to trade horses whilst crossing a stream," and 
consequently took an active part in the campaign which ended in the 
defeat of Gen. McClellan. In 1868, Dr. Pace took the stump for Gen. 
Grant, and again in 1872 he took an active part in the presidential cam- 
paign. 

In the spring of 1869 he was by President Grant appointed United 
States Consul, at Port Sarnia, Canada, a position which he still occupies. 

In religion, Dr. Pace is also a radical. A reverence for the things and 
ideas of the past is not a leading trait with him, and he refuses to be tied 
to any article of faith. 



208 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

cation of his body, in the hope to obtain from the Great Spirit 
protection through all his days ; that on this occasion he had 
dreamed of adopting an Englishman as his son, brother and 
friend ; that from the moment in Avhich he first beheld him he had 
recognized him as the person whom the Great Spirit had been 
pleased to point out as his brother ; that he hoped that Henry 
would not refuse his present, and that he should forever regard 
him as one of his family. 

Henry could not do otherwise than accept the present. He 
also declared his willingness to have so good a man for his friend 
and brother. Henry offered a present in return for the one he had 
received, which Wawatam accepted, and then, thanking Henry for 
the favor which he said he had rendered him, he left the house, 
and soon after set out on his winter's hunt. 

Twelve months had now elapsed since the occurrence of this 
incident, and Henry had almost forgotten the person of his brother, 
when, on the second day of June, Wawatam again visited his 
house, in a mood visibly melancholy and thoughtful. He said he 
had just returned from his wintering ground, and went on to say 
that he was very sorry to find his old friend returned from the 
Sault ; that he had intended to go to that place himself immedi- 
ately after his arrival at Michilimackinac ; and that he wished 
Henry and his family to go there with him the next morning. To 
all this Wawatam added an inquiry as to whether or not the com- 
mandant had heard bad news, adding that, during the winter, he 
had himself been frequently disturbed with the noise of evil winds ; 
and further suggesting that there were numerous Indians near the 
fort, many of whom had never shown themselves within it. 
Wawatam was about forty-five years of age, of an excellent char- 
acter among his nation, and a chief 

Referring much of what he had heard to the Indian character, 
Henry did not pay all the attention to the entreaties and remarks 
of his visitor which they were found to have deserved Henry said 
that he could not think of going to the Saiilt as soon as the next 
morning, but would follow him there after the arrival of his clerks. 
Finding himself unable to prevail, Wawatam withdrew for that 
day, but early the next morning he returned, bringing with him his 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



209 



wife, and a present of dried meat. At this interview, after stating 
that he had several packs of beaver, which he intended to 
trade with Henry, he expressed a second time his apjirehensions 
from the numerous Indians who were around the fort, and earnestly 




HON. JOHN MOORE. 

John Mooke, the present circuit judge of the tenth judicial circuit 
of tliis State, was born in the city of London, England, July 7, 1826. 
When four years of age, he, with his family, removed to the State of 
New York, and four years afterwards he emigrated to this State, and 
resided upon a farm in Miiford, Oakland county, until the spring of 1846, 
when he commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. Augustus C. 
Baldwin, then of Miiford, but now residing in Pontiac. In the spring of 
1848, he entered the law office of Lothrop & Duffield, of Detroit, and in 
October of that year was admitted an attorney of the Supreme Court, at 
14 



210 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

pressed his English friend to consent to an immediate departure 
for the Sault. As a reason for this particular request he assured 
Henry that all the Indians proposed to come in a body that day 
to the fort, to demand liquor of the commandant, and that he 
wished his friend to be away before they should grow intoxicated. 
This was as much as Wawatam dare reveal, but of course he had 
full knowledge of the plan for the awful massacre that followed. 

Henry had made, at the period to which I am now referring, so 
much progress in the language in which Wawatam addressed him 
as to be able to hold an ordinary conversation in it. Yet after 
all, Henry tells us, that the Indian manner of speech is so extrav- 
agantly figurative, that it is only a veiy perfect master that can 
follow and comprehend it entirely. " Had I been further advanced 
in this respect," says Henry, " I think that I should have gathered 
so much information from my friendly monitor, as would 
have put me 'into possession of the designs of the enemy, and 
enabled me to save others as well as myself; as it was, it unfortu- 
nately happened that I turned a deaf ear to everything, leaving 
Wawatam and his wife, after long and patient efforts, to depart 
alone, with dejected countenances, and not before they each let 
fall some tears." 

a session of that body held in Pontiac. Mr. Moore commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession soon afterwards in Fentonville, Genesee county, 
and remained tliere until the spring of 1851, when he removed to Sagi- 
naw, where he has ever since resided, engaged in professional business. 

Mr. Moore was prosecuting attorney of Saginaw county from 1855 to 
1858, inclusive. He was also mayor of Saginaw City from 1861 to 1863, 
inclusive, and a member of the Board of Education for about fifteen 
years prior to June, 1870, when he declined to serve longer, his time 
being too much occupied with the business of his profession. 

In 1868, Mr. Moore was the Democratic candidate for Governor of the 
State, in opposition to Governor Baldwin, and received thirty thousand 
more votes than any Democratic candidate for that office had ever 
received prior to that date, and above thirteen thousand more than any 
candidate of that party has since received for that office. 

A vacanc}' occurred in the office of circuit judge of the tenth circuit, 
by the resignation of Judge Sutherland, January 1, 1871, and a meeting 
of the bar of that circuit was held shortly afterwards, and Mr. Moore 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 211 

In the course of the same day, Henry observed that the Indians 
came in great numbers into the fort, purchasing tomahawks, and 
frequently desiring to see silver arm-bands, and other valuable 
ornaments. These ornaments, however, they in no instance pur- 
chased ; but after turning them over, left them, saying that they 
would call again the next day. Their motive, as it afterAvard 
appeared, was no other than the very artful one of discovering, by 
requesting to see them, the peculiar places of their deposit, so that 
they might lay their hands on them, in the moment of pillage, 
with greater certainty and despatch. At nightfall, Henry 
turned his mind to the visits of Wawatam ; but, although they 
excited uneasiness, nothing induced him to believe that serious 
mischief was at hand. 

The next day, being the fourth of June, was the King's birthday. 
The morning was sultry. A Chippewa visited Henry, and told 
him that his nation was going to play at boggattaway with the 
Sacks, another Indian nation, for a high wager. He invited 
Henry to witness the sport, adding that the commandant was to be 
there, and would bet on the side of the Chippewas. In conse- 
quence of this information, Henry went to the commandant, and 
expostulated with him a little, representing that the Indians might 

was requested, by an unanimous vote, to accept the office — a deserved 
compliment to his legal ability and standing in the profession. The 
members of the bar, and the leading; men of the circuit, united, irrespec- 
tive of party distinctions, in requesting; Governor Baldwin to appoint Mr. 
Moore to the office, on the ground of his eminent ability and fitness of 
the position. He was accordingly appointed on the first day of February, 
1871, to fill the vacancj' until an election could be held. A special elec- 
tion was held the followhig spring, at which the Kepublican and Demo- 
cratic parties united in the nomination of Judge Moore, and he was 
elected without opposition. He has continued to discharge the duties of 
the office until the present time, and his work upon the bench has fully 
justified the expectations of his numerous friends, and has already given 
him an enviable reputation throughout the State. The business of his 
circuit, measured by the magnitude and variety of the interests involved, 
is second to none in the State, and has been administered by him, it is 
believed, with entire satisfaction to the profession and the public. When 
called to the bench he stood at the head of his profession in the circuit, 



212 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

possibly have some sinister end in view ; but the commandant only 
smiled at his suspicions. 

The game of boggattaway, which the Indians played upon that 
memorable occasion, was the most exciting sport in which the red 
men could engage. It was played with bat and ball. The bat, 
so called, was about four feet in length, and one inch in diameter. 
It was made of the toughest material that could be found. At 
one end it was curved, and terminated in a sort of racket, or, per- 
haps, more properly, a ring, in which a net-work of cord was 
loosely woven. The players were not allowed to touch the ball 
with the hand, but caught it in this net-work at the end of the 
bat. At either end of the ground a tall post was planted. These 
posts marked the stations of the rival parties, and were sometimes 
a mile apart. The object of each party was to defend its own post, 
and carry the ball to that of the adversary. This is, undoubtedly, 
the same game which is now called Lacrosse, and which is very 
popular in Canada and some parts of the United States. 

At the beginning of the game the main body of the players 
assemble half-way between the two posts. Every eye sparkles, 
and every cheek is already aglow with excitement. The ball is 
tossed high into the air, and a general struggle ensues to secure it 

and was in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice. In the surrender of his 
handsome income from tliis source for the pitiful salary of his office, Mr. 
Moore displayed a public spirit as commendable as it is rare. 

As a judge, he is distinguished for his quick and clear discrimination, 
keen powers of analysis, thorough legal knowledge, and sound judgment 
in the application of the law, as well as promptness and impartiality in 
the discharge of his official duties. 

Mr. Moore commenced life with habits of industry, energy and good 
character, and from this beginning he has risen to his present high posi- 
tion, having occupied a place among the prominent men of his profession 
in the State for the past fifteen years, and been identified with nearly all 
the important litigation in his section. 

In politics he is known as a Democrat, and highly esteemed for his 
always moderate and independent course. During the war he did as 
much as any person in that portion of the State to unite popular senti- 
ment in support of President Lincoln's war policy, without regard to men 
or measures. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



213 



as it descends. He who succeeds, starts for the goal of the adver- 
sary, holding it high above his head. The opposite party, with 
merry yells, are swift to pursue. His course is intercepted, and, 
rather than see the ball taken from him, he throws it, as a boy 




E. T. JUDD. 

E. T. JtTDD, of East Saginaw, Michigan, was born in Geneva, New 
York, in 1823. At an early age he commenced business for himself in 
his native town, and continued it for eight years, winning many friends 
and prospering copiously. Closing up this business, he removed to Ham- 
ilton, Canada West, where he remained until 1865, when he removed to 
East Saginaw, and has resided there ever since. On the 17th of .June, of 
the same year, the First National Bank of East Saginaw was opened, 
with Mr. Judd as president, which position he still occupies. Under the 
management of Mr. Judd, this bank has secured a wide patronage, and 
proved a good investment to its stockholders, becoming one of the per- 
manent institutions of the Saginaw Valley. 



214 GENERAL niStORY OP TSE STATES. 

throws a stone from a sling, as far towards the goal of his adver- 
sary as he can. An adversary in the game catches it and sends it 
whizzing back in the opposite direction. Hither and thither it 
goes ; now far to the right, now as far to the left ; now near to 
one, now as near to the other goal ; the whole band crowding con- 
tinually after it in the wildest confusion ; until, finally, some agile 
figure, more fleet of foot than others, succeeds in bearing it to the 
goal of the opposite party. 

Persons still living at Michilimackinac, who, having seen this 
game played by the Indians, and themselves participated in it, say 
that often a whole day is insufficient to decide the contest. "When 
such is the case, the following day is taken, and the game begun 
anew. As many as six or seven hundred Indians sometimes engage 
in a single game, while it may be played by fifty. In the heat of 
the contest, when all are running at their greatest speed, if one 
stumbles and fall.'?, fifty or a hundred, who are in close pursuit, and 
unable to stop, pile over him, forming a mound of human bodies, 
and frequently players are so bruised as to be unable to proceed in 
the game. 

This game, with its attendant noise and violence, was well calcu- 
lated to divert the attention of officers and men, and thus j)ermit 
the Indians to take possession of the fort. To make their success 
more certain, they prevailed upon as many as they could to come 
out of the fort, while at the same time their squaws, wrapped in 
blankets, beneath which they concealed the murderous weapons, 
were placed inside the inclosure. The plot was so ingeniously laid 
that no one suspected danger. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



The Massacre at Fort Michilimackinac — Indians Drinkesg the 
Blood of Englishmen — Sufferings op English Prisoners — The 
Ottawas Espouse the Cause of the English and Take Posses- 
sion of the Fort — The Indian Council. 

The discipline of the garrison was relaxed, and the soldiers 
permitted to stroll about and view the sport without carrying 
weapons of defense ; and even when the ball, as if by chance, was 
lifted high in the air, to descend inside the pickets, and was fol- 
lowed by four hundred savage warriors, all eager, all struggling, 
all shouting, in the unrestrained pursuit of a rude, athletic exer- 
cise, no alarm Avas felt until the shrill war-whoop told the startled 
garrison that the work of slaughter had actually begun. 

Mr. Henry, of whom I have been speaking, did not attend the 
match which I have just described. There being a canoe prepared 
to depart on the following day for Montreal, he employed himself 
in writing letters to his friends. While thus engaged, he heard an 
Indian war cry and a noise of general confusion. Going instantly 
to his window, he saw a crowd of Indians, within the fort, furi- 
ously cutting down and scalping every Englishman they found. 
In particular, he witnessed the fate of Lieut. Jamette. He had 
in the room in which he was a fowling-piece, loaded with swan- 
shot. This he immediately seized, and held it for a few moments, 
waiting to hear the drum beat to arms. In that dreadful interval 
he witnessed the scene of several of his countrymen falling under 
the tomahawk, and more than one struggling between the knees of 
an Indian, who, holding him in this manner, scalped him while yet 
living. At length, disappointed in the hope of seeing resistance 
made to the enemy, and knowing that no effort of his own unas- 
sisted arm could avail against four hundred Indians, he thought 
only of seeking shelter. Amid the slaughter which was raging, he 



216 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

observed many of the Canadian inhabitants of the fort calmly 
looking on, neither opposing the Indians, nor suffering injury, and, 
from this circumstance, he conceived a hope of finding security in 
their houses. 

Between the yard-door of his own house and that of M. Lang- 
lade, his next neighbor, there was only a low fence, over which he 
easily climbed. On entering, he found the whole family at the 
windows, gazing at the scene of blood before them. He addressed 
himself immediately to M. Langlade, begging that he would 
put him into some place of safety until the heat of the affair 
should be over, an act of charity by which he might, perhaps, be 
preserved from the general massacre. But, while he uttered his 
petition, M. Langlade, who had looked for a moment at him, 
turned again to the window, shrugging his shoulders, and intimat- 
ing that he could do nothing for him. 

With Henry this was a moment of despair ; but the next, a 
Pawnee woman, a slave of M. Langlade, beckoned him to follow 
her. She led him to a door, which she opened, desiring him to 
enter, and telling him that it led to the garret, where he must go 
and conceal himself Henry joyfully obeyed her directions ; and 
she, having followed him up to the garret door, locked it after 
him, and took away the key. This shelter obtained, Henry 
became anxious to know what might still be jaassing without. 
Through an aperture, which afforded him a view of the area of 
the fort, he beheld, in forms the foulest and most terrible, the fero- 
cious triumphs of barbarian conquerors. The dead were scalpyed 
and mangled ; the dying were writhing and shrieking under the 
unsatiated knife and tomakawk ; and, from the bodies of some, 
ripped open, their butchers were drinking the blood, scooped up 
in the hollow of joined hands, and quaffed amid shouts of rage 
and victory. Henry was shaken, not only with horror, but with 
fear. The suflferings which he witnessed, he seemed on the point 
of experiencing himself. Not long elapsed before, every one being 
destroyed who could be found, there was a general cry of, " All is 
finished !" At the same instant, Henry heard some of the Indians 
enter the house in which he had taken shelter. The garret was 
separated from the room below only by a layer of single boards. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



217 



The prisoner could, therefore, hear everything that passed ; and 
the Indians no sooner came in than they inquired whether or not 
any Englishmen were in the house. M. Langlade replied that he 
could not say ; they might examine for themselves, and would 




DR. J. B. WHITE. 

John B. White was born January 13, 1826, in the town of Pompey, 
Onondaga county, New York. His father was a farmer, and he remained 
with him on the farm until about his eighteenth year, receiving such 
education as could be obtained at a country school and village academy. 
He studied medicine with Dr. H. B. Moore, of Manlius, New York, who 
was then the leading surgeon of that part of the country. He attended 
his first course of medical lectures at Geneva, New York, where he 
became clinical assistant to the professor of surgery. The following 
year he went to Philadelphia, and graduated at the Philadelphia College 



218 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

soon be satisfied as to the object of their question. Saying this, 
he conducted them to the garret door. 

The state of Henry's mind at this juncture may be imagined. 
When they arrived at the door, some delay was occasioned, owing 
to the absence of the key, and a few moments were thus allowed 
Henry in which to look round for a hiding place. In one corner 
of the garret was a heap of those vessels of birch bark used in 
making maple sugar. 

The door was unlocked and opened, and the Indians ascended 
the stairs before Henry had completely crept into a small opening 
which presented itself at one end of the heap. An instant later, 
four Indians entered the room, all armed with tomahawks, and all 
besmeared with blood upon every part of their bodies. The die 
appeared to be cast. Henry could scarcely breathe, and he was 
sure that the throbbing of his heart occasioned a noise loud enough 
to betray him. The Indians walked in every direction about the 
garret, and one of them approached him so closely that, at a par- 
ticular moment, had he put forth his hand, he could have touched 
him. Still, he remained undiscovered, a circumstance to which 
the dark color of his clothes, and the want of light in the room, 
must have contributed. In short, after taking several turns in the 
room, during which they told Langlade how many they had killed 
and how many scalps they had taken, they returned down stairs ; 
and Henry, with sensations not easily expressed, heard the door 
locked lor the second time. 

of Medicine, and in the spring of 1860 received an ad eundem degree from 
the medical department of Pennsylvania College. Soon after his gradua- 
tion he returned to New York, and practiced his profession, with his old 
preceptor, for about two years, and while there received the appointment 
of demonstrator of aniitomy in the New York ('ollege of Dental Surgery, 
but on the earnest solicitation of his old friend and room mate of the 
village academy (now the Hon. J. G. Sutherland), who had located and 
was practicing law at Saginaw City, jVIichigan, he was induced to remove 
to that city, where he arrived July 1, 1854. He early succeeded in 
acquiring a large and extensive practice, which declining health has now 
compelled him to partially abandon. He now devotes his time chiefly to 
the practice of gynaecology, and is medical advisor and acting surgeon of 
the Jackson, Lansing <fe Saginaw Division of the Michigan Central R. R. 



HISTOKY OF MICHIGAN. 219 

There was a feather bed on the floor, and on this, exhausted as 
he was by agitation of raind, he threw himself down and went to 
sleep. In this condition he remained till the dark of the even- 
ing, Avhen he was awakened by a second opening of the door. 
The person who now entered was M. Langlade's wife, who was 
much surprised at finding him, but advised him not to be uneasy, 
observing that the Indians had killed most of the Englishmen, 
but that she trusted he would escape. A shower of rain having 
begun to fall, she had come to stop a hole in the roof On 
retiring, Henry begged her to send him a little water to drink, 
which she did. 

As night was now advancing, he continued to lie on the bed, 
thinking of his condition, but unable to discover a source from 
which he could hope for life. A flight to Detroit had no probable 
chance of success ; the distance from Michilimackinac was four 
hundred miles ; he was without provisions, and the whole length 
of the road lay through Indian countries — countries of an enemy 
in arms — where the first Indian he should meet would take his 
life. To stay where he was threatened nearly the same thing. 
As before, fatigue of mind, and not tranquillity, suspended his 
cares, and procured him further sleep. 

The respite which sleep afforded him during the night was ended 
by the return of morning. At sunrise, he heard the family stir- 
ring, and presently after, Indian voices, informing M. Langlade 
that they had not found an Englishman named Henry among the 

Dr. White has always been a diligent student, and taken great interest in 
the advancement of medical education, especially in the medical schools 
of our State, and is an active working member of the county and State 
medical societies. He is also a permanent member of the National Medi- 
cal Association. As a practitioner, he has taken high rank, and by steady 
observance of the professional amenities, has ever been on good fellow- 
ship and popularity with other members of his profession. He is a tirm 
upholder of the dignity of the profession. Charlatanry, of whatever 
form or kind, is confronted boldly. He is unyielding in his opposition 
to all of the sophism of the day, convinced that whatever there is of 
value in the healing art is mainly due to the discoveries and investiga- 
tions of those who continue to walk in the path of regular and legitimate 
medicine. 



220 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

dead, and that they believed him to be somewhere concealed. 
M. Langlade appeared from what followed, to be, by this time, 
acquainted with the place of Henry's retreat, of which, no doubt, 
he had been informed by his wife. The poor woman, as soon as 
the Indians mentioned Henry, declared to her husband, in the 
French tongue, that he should no longer shield the Englishman, 
but deliver him up to his pursuers, giving as a reason that, should 
the Indians discover his instrumentality in the matter, they might 
avenge it on her children. M. Langlade resisted at first, but soon 
suffered her to prevail, informing the Indians that he had been 
told Henry was in the house ; that he had come there without 
his knowledge, and that he would put him into their hands. 
This was no sooner expressed than he began to ascend the stairs, 
the Indians following at his heels. Henry now resigned himself to 
his fete ; and, regarding every attempt at concealment as vain, he 
arose from the bed, and presented himself in view to the Indians, 
who were entering the room. They were all in a state of intoxi- 
cation, and entirely naked, except about the middle. One of 
them, named Wenniway, whom he had previously known, walked 
up to him, and seized him with one hand by the collar of the coat, 
while in the other he held a large carving-knife, as if to plunge it 
into his breast ; his eyes, meanwhile, were fixed steadfastly on 
Henry's. At length, after some seconds of the most anxious sus- 
pense, he dropped his arm, saying, " I won't kill you !" To this 
he added that he had been frequently engaged in war against the 
English, and had brought away many scalps ; that, on a certain 
occasion, he had lost a brother, whose name was Musinigon, and 
that Henry should be called after him. He then ordered him 
down stairs, and there informed hira that he was to be taken to 
his cabin. Here, as indeed everywhere else, the Indians were all 
mad with liquor. Death, again, was threatened, and not as possi- 
ble only, but as certain. Henry mentioned his fears on this subject 
to M. Langlade, begging him to represent the danger to his mas- 
ter. Langlade, in this instance, did not withhold his compassion, 
and the Indian immediately consented that Henry should remain 
where he was, until he found another opportunity to take him 
away. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



221 



Thus far secure, he reascended the stairs, in order to place him- 
self the farthest possible out of the reach of insult from drunken 
Indians ; but he had not remained there more than an hour, when 
he was called to the room below, in which was an Indian who said 




HON. ELEAZER JEWETT. 

Eleazer Jewett was born in the State of New Hampshire, April 29, 
1799. He came to Michigan and settled on the Saginaw river in Septem- 
ber, 1826, traveling from Pontiac on foot, alone, carrying in a pack all 
his worldly goods. The country was then new and unsettled. Eiglit miles 
north of Pontiac was the residence of Alpheus Williams, father of Harvey 
Williams, one of the pioneers of the Saginaw Valley. There was no 
other trace of civilization on the way, except at Grand Blanc and the 
Grand Traverse of Flint River (now city of Flint). At the latter place a 
half-breed named Campau had a log hut on the south side of the river, 



222 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

that the Englishman must go with him out of the fort, Wenniway 
having sent for him. Henry had also seen this man before. In 
the preceding year he had allowed him to take goods ou credit, 
for which he still owed ; and some short time previous to the sur- 
prise of the fort he had said, upon being asked for the amount, 
that " he would pay the Englishman before long." This speech 
now came fresh in Henry's memory, and led him to suspect that 
the fellow had formed a design against his life. He communicated 
his suspicion to Langlade, but that gentleman gave for an answer, 
that he was not his own master, and must do as the Indian had 
ordered. 

The Indian, on his part, directed the Englishman to undress 
himself before leaving the house, declaring that his coat and shirt 
would become an Indian better than they did Henry. His pleas- 
ure in this respect being complied with, no other alternative was 
left to Henry than either to go out naked, or to put on the clothes 
of the Indian, which he freely gave him in exchange. His motive 
for thus stripping him of his own apparel was no other, as Henry 
afterwards learned, than that it might not be stained with blood 
when he killed him. 

The Englishman was now ordered to proceed, and his driver fol- 
lowed him close until he had passed the gate of the fort, when he 

near where the principal bridge stands. Between Flint river, at this place, 
and Saginaw, was an unbroken wilderness, and only an Indian trail to 
guide the adventurous traveler. There was no settlement in the Saginaw 
Valley, except on the site where the city of Saginaw now is. Here was 
a narrow clearing on the margin of the river. Besides the Indian farmers 
and blacksmiths, provided by the government, the American Fur Com- 
pany had a small trading establishment in charge of a Frenchman named 
Reaume. They constituted the civilized population. 

Mr. Jewett went into the employ of the American Fur Company for 
two years, then he built a block house on Green Point and commenced 
trading with the Indians on his own account. He continued this trade 
for ten j^ears. 

He married in 1831. His eldest child, a daughter, now the wife of Dr. 
N. D. Lee, was the first white child born in the Saginaw Valley. 

In 1883, Mr. Jewett purchased at Steben's mill, on Thread river, near 
the Grand Traverse of Flint river, 10,000 feet of pine boards, of which 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN 223 

turned toward the spot where he knew the Indians to be encamped. 
This, however, did not suit the purpose of the Indian. He seized 
Henry by the arm, drew him violently in the opposite direction, 
to the distance of fifty yards above the fort. Here, finding that 
he was approaching the bushes and sand hills, Henry determined 
to proceed no farther, but told the Indian that he believed he 
meant to murder him, and that if so, he might as well strike 
where he was as at any greater distance. The Indian replied with 
coolness, that the Englishman's suspicions were correct, and that 
he meant to pay him, in this manner, for his goods. At the same 
time he produced a knife, and held Henry in a position to receive 
the intended blow. Both this and that which followed were neces- 
sarily the affairs of a moment. By some effort, too sudden, and 
too little dependent on thought to be explained or remembered, 
Henry was enabled to arrest his arm, and give him a sudden j)ush, 
by which he turned from him and became released from his grasp. 
This was no sooner done than Henry ran towards the fort with all 
the swiftness in his power, the Indian following him, and the pur- 
sued expecting every moment to feel the knife of the pursuer. 
Henry succeeded in his flight, and on entering the fort, he saw 
Wenniway standing in the midst of the area, and hastened to 
him for protection. Wenniway desired the Indian to desist ; but 

he formed a raft in Flint river. Unaided, he floated this raft down to 
the driftwood at the mouth of Flint river. Of this lumber he constructed 
a frame house on the opposite side of the river fi-om Green Point, in which 
he afterwards resided and continued his business. 

In January, 1837, when Saginaw City had attained considerable size as 
a village, he placed his house on four sleds and drew it with four pair of 
oxen down the river on the ice to the "city," where, notwithstanding 
some other migrations, it is still standing. 

In lb28, he brought the tirst swine to Saginaw county. 

On the 4th of July, 1832, he invited the entire population of the Sag- 
inaw Valley to a celebration of the national anniversary at his home on 
Green Point. All the inhabitants, old and young — twenty-nine in num- 
ber — came at his hospitable invitation. The ceremonies were patriotic 
and interesting. They were enlivened by music and conviviality— the 
music on a bass drum, brought and played, solo, by Abraham Butts, a 
respected pioneer, who. died only two years ago; the conviviality, aided 



224 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the latter still pursued hiin around the chief, making several 
strokes at Henry with his knife, and foaming at the mouth with 
rage at the repeated failure of his purpose. At length Wenniway 
drew near to M. Langlade's house, and, the door being open, 
Henry ran into it. The Indian followed him, but on entering it 
he voluntarily abandoned the pursuit. 

Preserved so often, and so unexpectedly, as it had already been 
his lot, he returned to his garret, with a strong inclination to 
believe that, through the will of an overruling Providence, no 
Indian enemy could do him hurt. Exhausted with fear, he threw 
himself upon the bed and was soon relieved by sleep. At ten 
o'clock in the evening he was again aroused, and once more desired 
to descend the stairs. Not less, however, to his satisfaction than 
surprise, he was summoned only to meet Major Etherington, Mr. 
Bostwick, and Lieutenant Leslie, who were in the room below. 
These gentlemen had been taken prisoners, while looking at the 
game without the fort, and immediately stripped of all their 
clothes. They were now sent into the fort under the charge of 
Canadians, because, the Indians having resolved on getting drunk, 
the chiefs were apprehensive that they would be murdered if they 
continued in the camp. Lieutenant Jamette and seventy English 
had been killed, and but twenty Englishmen, including soldiers, 
were still alive. These were all within the fort, together Avith 
more than double their number of Canadians. 

by the spirituous beverage of the time, which was innocent of all the 
corruptions that at a later date have rendered it obnoxious. His three 
sons grew to manhood. One fell in the service of his countrj^ at Gettys- 
burgh ; the others reside at Saginaw, worthy eiaui]iles of industry and 
thrift. 

Mr. .T. was elected justice of the peace at an earlj- day, and has since 
served in that capacity for nearly thirty j-ears. He also served as county 
surveyor for nearh^ twenty j'^ears, immediately succeeding the inaugura- 
tion of Saginaw county, and served fourteen years as judge of probate. 

He is the sole survivor of the first pioneers. In his prime, he was a 
man of courage and muscle. He is still in robust health, residing quietly 
and in comfort at his country seat in Kochville. He does not appear 
to be the worse for the exposure and hardships of his rough pioneer 
experience. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



225 



It was suggested among the English prisoners that an effort to 
regain possession of the fort might successfully be made. The 
Jesuit missionary was consulted on the subject, but his words dis- 
couraged the idea. Thus the fort and prisoners remained in the 




R. W. JENNY. 

Royal W. Jenny came to Michigan in 1834, and engaged at his trade 
in Detroit, where he worked six years. In 1840, he launched the Lapeer 
Sentinel on his own account. This journal was first edited by Mr. Henry 
W. Williams, and at a later period by Col. J. R. White, who is still living 
at Lapeer. He moved to Baginaw City in the spring of 1844, where he 
edited and published the Worth Star, at that time the most northerly paper 
in the United States. Mr. Jenny not only edited and printed the Star, 
unaided by help of any kind, but for quite a period filled the responsible 
position of town clerk of Saginaw; was one of the superintendents of 
15 



226 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

hands of the Indians, though through the whole night the prisoners 
and whites were in actual possession. That whole night, or the 
greater part of it, was passed in mutual condolence. In the morn- 
ing Henry was visited by Wenniway, and ordered to accompany 
that chief. He led him to a small house within the fort, where, 
in a narrow room which was almost dark, he found his old friend 
Solomons, an Englishman from Detroit, and a soldier, both pris- 
oners. With these he remained in painful suspense as to the scene 
that was next to present itself At ten o'clock in the forenoon, 
an Indian arrived, and immediately marched them to the lake 
side, when a canoe appeared ready for departure, and in which 
they were ordered to embark. Their voyage, full of doubt as it 
was, would have commenced immediately, but that one of the 
Indians who was to be of the party was absent. His arrival was 
to be waited for, and this occasioned a very long delay, during 
which the Englishmen were exposed to a keen northwest wind. 
An old shirt was all that covered Henry, and he suffered much 
from the cold. At noon the party was collected, the prisoners all 

the poor of Saginaw county, and deputy postmaster. At tliis period, 
Jud^c G. D. Williams was postmaster at Saginaw, which was the only 
postofflce in all the territory now embraced within the counties of Sagi- 
naw, Tuscola, Bay and Midland. 

Mr. Jenny was married to Mrs. Sophia A. Hill, a sister of the late 
lamented James N. Gotee and Jerome H. Gotee, at Saginaw, in February, 
1847. His wife is an estimable lady, of rare literary culture, and who, 
soon after her removal to Flint with her husband iu 1849, wrote the con- 
stitution and by-laws of the Ladies' Library Association of that city, and 
organized it. This was the first institution of the kind formed in the 
Northwest, and has become the model for the hundreds of similar 
as.sociations scattered throughout Michigan and the whole Northwest. 
In this great field of usefulness, Mrs. Sophia A. Jenny has Mon the 
highest esteem of the people of this State, and endeared her memory to 
coming generations. 

Since Mr. Jenny's removal to Flint, he has published the Genesee Z)<;?«o- 
crat — a journal which has ever been high-minded in discussion, honest in 
politics, and deserving of the extensive patronage which it has always 
enjoyed. During the late war, Mr. Jenny urged, through the columns of 
his journal, the " raising of men and money" that the general govern- 
ment might need to suppress the rebellion. Major E. W. Lyon, at that 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 227 

embarked, and they started for the Isles du Castor, in Lake Michi- 
gan. The Indians in the canoe numbered seven, the prisoners 
four. The soldier was made fast to a bar of the canoe, by a rope 
tied around his neck, as is the manner of the Indians in trans- 
porting their prisoners. The others were left unconfined, but pad- 
dles were put into their hands, and they were ordered to use them. 
After paddling along for some time, keeping near shore on account 
of a dense fog that prevailed, they approached the land of the 
Ottawas, at Fox Point, eighteen miles from Michilimackinac. 
After the Indians had made their war whoop, an Ottawa appeared 
upon the beach and signaled them to land. When the canoe 
arrived in shallow water, a hundred Ottawas sprung from among 
the bushes, and dragged the prisoners out of it amid a terrifying 
shout. They gave as a reason for this action, that the Chippewas 
had insulted them by attacking the English without consulting 
them, and consequently they were friends of the English and ene- 
mies of the Chippewas. They added that what they had done 

time a partner with Mr. Jenny, at once raised a company for Col. Fen- 
ton's regiment, in which he was effectually aided by Mr. Jenny. 

A few years ago, participating in the celebration of the completion of 
the railroad from East Saginaw to Bay City, Mr. Jenny, in response to a 
call, said: "You of the Saginaws do not duly appreciate your geographi- 
cal position and the advantages you will receive in the not distant future. 
Quicker than you now dream will you find yourselves on the great line of 
communication between the orients and the Occidents. The Northern 
Pacific Railroad finished — now, I admit, only talked of — and the people 
of China and Japan will throng your streets and solicit your acquaintance 
and trade. You gentlemen over the table who laugh at my credulity, 
please remember my predictions. " 

If the reader will remember that those words were uttered when 
northern Michigan was a wilderness, and that his predictions have been 
already more than realized, it will be easy to appreciate the value of such 
a man to the infant growth of our State. It has been stated that Mr. 
Jenny has "built in his paper" nearly every work of improvement pro- 
jected in the northern part of the State, at least half a dozen times before 
they were undertaken by active operations. Two projects only now 
remain, heretofore advocated by him, but the lookout for these is not 
very encouraging. They are slack-water navigation of the Flint river 
from Flint to Saginaw, and the " Bad River Canal" in Saginaw county. 



228 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

was for the purpose of saving their lives, as the Chippewas were 
carrying them to the Isles du Castor to kill and eat them. 

The prisoners were soon embarked again in an Ottawa canoe, 
and carried back to Michilimackinac, where they were marched 
into the fort by the Ottawas in vicAV of the Chippewas, who were 
confounded at seeing their brothers of the forest opposing them. 
The Ottawas, being of sufficient numbers, at once took possession 
of the fort. The prisoners who had changed hands were lodged 
in the house of the commandant, and vigilantly guarded. 

Early the next morning a general council was held, in which 
the Chippewas complained of the conduct of the Ottawas in rob- 
bing them of their prisoners, and urging them to join in the war, 
as the English were meeting with destruction in every part of the 
world. As the Indians rarely make their answers until the day 
following the hearing of the arguments offered, the council 
adjourned for that purpose. 



CHAPTER XV. 

The English Persecuted at Michilimackinac apteb the Massacre 
— The Adventure of Henry — Prisoners Divided Between the 
Chippewas and the Ottawas— Lieutenant Gorell Rescues the 
Prisoners from the Ottawas, and the English Leave the 
Country — Escape op Henry. 

The prisoners, whose fate was thus in controversy, were unac- 
quainted at the time with this transaction, and, therefore, enjoyed 
a night of tolerable tranquillity. The result of the council was 
that the prisoners were returned to the Chippewas. While in the 
hands of the Ottawas, the prisoners had been informed that the 
former intended to kill them and make broth of them ; hence, we 
may imagine their feelings at being restored to their old enemies. 
The Chippewas marched them into a village of their own, and put 
them into a lodge, already the prison of fourteen soldiers, tied two 
and two, each having a rope about his neck that was made fast to 
a pole of the lodge. Henry was left untied ; but he passed a night 
sleepless and full of wretchedness. His bed was the bare ground, 
and his only clothing was the old shirt, already mentioned. He 
was, besides, in want of food, having for two days eaten nothing. 
Henry relates that, while he was in the canoe with the Chippewas, 
they offered him bread, but that it had been cut from the loaf 
with the same knives the Indians used in the massacre — knives 
still covered with blood. The blood they moistened with spittle, 
and, rubbing it on the bread, offered it to the prisoners, telling 
them to eat the blood of their countrymen. 

Such was the situation of the Englishmen at Michilimackinac 
on the seventh of June, 1763, but a few hours produced an event 
that gave still a new color to Henry's lot. Toward noon, when 
the great war chief, in company Avith Wenniway, was seated at the 
opposite end of the lodge, his friend, Wawatam, suddenly entered. 
In passing by he gave Henry his hand, but went immediately 



230 GENERAL, HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

toward the great chief, and sat down beside him. The most 
uninterrupted silence prevailed ; each smoked his jjipe ; and, 
this done, Wawatam arose and left the lodge, saying to Henry, 
as he passed, " Take courage !" An hour elapsed, during which 
several chiefs entered, and preparations appeared to be making 
for a council. At length, Wawatam reentered the lodge, followed 
by his wife, and both loaded with merchandise, which they carried 
up to the chiefs, and laid in a heap before them. Some moments of 
silence followed, at the end of which Wawatam delivered a speech. 

" Friends and relations," he began, " what is it that I shall 
say ? You know what I feel. You all have friends, and brothers, 
and children, whom, as yourselves, you love ; and you — what 
would you experience, did you, like me, behold your dearest 
friend, your brother, in the condition of a slave — a slave, exposed 
every moment to insult and to menaces of death. This case, as 
you all know, is mine. See there (pointing to Henry) my friend 
and brother among slaves — himself a slave. You all well know 
that, long before the war began, I adopted him as my brother. 
From that moment he became one of my family, so that no danger 
of circumstances could break the cord which fastened us together. 
He is my brother ; and, because I am your relation, he is, there- 
fore, your relation, too ; and how, being your relation, can he be 
your slave ? 

" On the day on which the war began you were fearful lest, on 
this very account, I should reveal your secret; you requested, 
therefore, that I should leave the fort, and even cross the lake. I 
did so ; but I did it with reluctance. I did it with reluctance, 
notwithstanding that you (naming the chief) who had the com- 
mand in this enterprise, gave me your promise that you would 
protect my friend, delivering him from all danger, and giving him 
safely to me. The performance of this I now claim. I come not 
with empty hands to ask it. I bring these goods, to buy oif 
every claim which any man among you all may have on my 
brother, as his prisoner." 

Wawatam having ceased, the pipes were again filled ; and, after 
they were finished, a further period of silence followed. At the 
end of this, Minavavana arose and gave his reply : 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



231 



" My relation and brother," said he, " what you have spoken is 
truth. We were acquainted with the friendship which subsisted 
between yourself and the Englishman, in whose behalf you have 
now addressed us. We knew the danger of having our secret dis- 




GEN. MARK FLANIGAN. 

Mark Flanigan was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, in the 
year 1825. His parents, who belonged to the sect of Presbyterians 
known as Covenanters, emigrated to Canada in 1833, whence the subject 
of this sketch came to the United States in 1841, and settled in Detroit, 
Michigan, in 1845. 

In 1847 he engaged in business, in which he continued down to the 
breaking out of the rebellion, soon after which he volunteered to serve 
during the war, entering the 24th Michigan Infantry, of which regiment 
he was made lieutenant-colonel. He served with distinction under all 
the generals who commanded the army of the Potomac. 



232 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

covered, and the consequences that must follow ; and you say 
truly that we requested you to leave the fort. This was done out 
of regard for you and your family ; for, if a discovery of our 
design had been made, you would have been blamed, whether 
guilty or not ; and you would thus have been involved in difficul- 
ties from which you could not have extricated yourself. It is also 
true that I promised to take care of your friend ; and this promise 
I performed by desiring my son, at the moment of the assault, to 
seek him out, and bring him to my lodge. He went, accordingly, 
but could not find him. The day after, I sent him to Langlade's, 
where he was informed that your friend was safe ; and, had it not 
been that the Indians were then drinking the rum which had been 
found in the fort, he would have brought him home with him, 
according to my orders. I am very glad to find that your friend 
has escaped. We accept your present, and you may take him home 
with you." 

Wawatam thanked the chiefs, and, taking Henry by the hand, 
led him to his lodge, which was at the distance of a few rods only 
from the prison-lodge. His entrance appeared to give joy to the 
whole family ; food was immediately prepared for him, and he now 
ate the first hearty meal which he had made since his capture. 
He found himself one of the family ; and, but that he had still 
his fears as to the other Indians, he felt as happy as the situation 
could allow. In the course of the next morning, he was alarmed 
by a noise in the prison-lodge ; and, looking through the' opening 
of the lodge in which he was, he beheld seven dead bodies of white 
men dragged forth. Upon inquiry, he was informed that a certain 

For gallant conduct at Fitzhugh Crossing, Va., Lieut.-Col. Flanigan 
was made colonel by brevet, and received the further brevet rank of 
brigadier-genera! of volunteers for the bravery shown, and the valuable 
services rendered, at Gettysburg, in which famous battle he lost' a leg. 
On his return home, after partially recovering from his wound, he was 
received by the city of Detroit with the most flattering tokens of the 
regard and approbation of her citizens. 

In addition to an honorable military record, Gen. Flanigan has long 
occupied a prominent position in civil aliairs. An active member of the 
old Detroit tire department, he was for many years foreman of Phoenix 
Co. No. 5, and also held the position of member of the board of trustees 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 233 

chief, called by the Canadians, Le Grand Sable, had not long 
before arrived from his winter's hunt ; and that he, having been 
absent when the war began, and being desirous of manifesting to 
the Indians at large his hearty concurrence in what they had done, 
had gone into the prison-lodge, and there, with his knife, put the 
seven men to death. Shortly after, two of the Indians took one 
of the dead bodies, which they chose as being the fattest, cut off 
the head, and divided the whole into five parts, which were put 
into five kettles, hung over as many fires, kindled for this purpose 
at the door of the prison-lodge. Soon after, the horrible prepara- 
tions were deemed completed, and the warriors were invited to the 
feast. The invitations are given by the master of the feast. 
Small cuttings of cedar wood, of about four inches in length, 
supply the place of cards ; and the bearer, by word of mouth, 
states the particulars. The Indians attend, each taking with him 
his dish and spoon. Henry tells us that his friend Wawatam did 
not appear to have relished the repast, having returned, after an 
absence of about an hour and a half, bringing in his dish a human 
hand and a large piece of flesh. 

In the evening of the same day, a large canoe was seen advanc- 
ing to the fort. The Indian cry was raised in the village, a general 
muster ordered, and, to the number of two hundred, the savages 
marched up to the fort, where the canoe was expected to land. 
The occupants of the canoe, who were English traders, suspected 
nothing, and came boldly to the fort, when they were seized, 

and treasurer of the department. He was an alderman of the city in 
1859 and 1860, and sheriff of Wayne county in 1861 and 1863, until he 
entered the army. 

The wound received at Gettysburg having unfitted him for further ser- 
vice in the field, he was made provost-marshal at Detroit, and was 
afterwards assessor of internal revenue for the first district of Michigan. 
On the consolidation of revenue oflaces, and the reduction of the force, 
he was made collector of internal revenue at Detroit, which oflSce he now 
holds. CTen. Flanigan's labors in the cause of free schools, during the 
many years he has been a leading member of the Detroit Board of Edu- 
cation, are too well known to need comment or praise from us. It is 
sufficient to say that their results have uniformly been such as to add to 
the respect and regard felt for him by his fellow-citizens. 



234 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

dragged through the water, beaten, reviled, marched to the prison, 
and there strijDped of their clothes and confined. 

Of all the English traders who fell into the hands of the Indians 
at the capture of the fort, Mr. Tracy was the only one who lost his 
life. Mr. Solomons and Mr Henry Bostwick were taken by the 
Ottawas ; and, after the peace, carried to Montreal, and there ran- 
somed. One account says that, out of ninety troops, seventy were 
killed. This is probably incorrect, as there were only about 
thirty-five soldiers, with their officers, in the fort. It is only rea- 
sonable to suppose that of the seventy killed, many were women 
and children, wives and children of the soldiers. 

The peculiarities of the Indian character readily explain the 
part which the Ottawas played in this transaction. They deemed 
it a gross insult that the Chippewas had undertaken an enterprise 
of such vast importance without consulting them or asking their 
assistance. They had, therefore, rescued Henry and his compan- 
ions in tribulation from the hands of their captors, and borne 
them back to the fort. After the council between the two nations, 
of which we have already sjJoken, some of the prisoners, among 
whom was Henry, were given up, but the officers and several of 
the soldiers were retained, and carried by the Ottawas to L'Arbre 
Croche. Here they were treated with kindness. From this point 
Ethrington dispatched two letters, one by Father Janois, to Major 
Gladwyn, of Detroit ; and the other, by an Ottawa Indian, to 
Lieutenant Gorell, at Green Bay. These letters contained a brief 
account of the massacre, and an earnest entreaty for assistance. 

When Father Janois reached Detroit, he found the place closely 
besieged ; and, consequently, no assistance could be had from that 
quarter ; but at Green Bay the Indian messenger was more for- 
tunate. With seventeen men, Lieutenant Gorell had taken pos- 
session of that post in 1761, and, by a system of good management, 
had succeeded in allaying the hostility of the savages, and secur- 
ing the friendship of at least a part of the tribes around him. 
On receiving Ethrington's letter, Gorell told the Indians what 
the Chippewas had done, and that he and his soldiers were 
going to Michilimackinac to restore order, adding that, during 
his absence, he commended the fort to their care. Presents 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



235 



were distributed among them, and advantage taken of every cir- 
cumstance that could possibly be made to favor the English 
cause ; so that, when the party was ready to embark, ninety 
warriors proposed to escort the garrison on its way. 




J. M. STANLEY. 

James M. Stanley, the leading delineator of Indian character, was 
a man of more than national reputation as an artist, and no mere bio- 
graphical sketch can do justice to his achievements. He was born at 
Canadaigua, N. Y., on the 17th of January, 1814. At an early age he 
was thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood, and he spent the 
greater portion of his boyhood in Buffalo, N. Y. In 1834, he removed 
to this State, and, in 1835, commenced his profession of portrait painting 
in the city of Detroit. He remained there until 1837, when he went to 



236 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Arriving at L'Arbre Croche, where Captain Ethrington, Lieu- 
tenant Leslie, and eleven men were yet detained as prisoners, 
Gorell received an intimation that the Ottawas intended to dis- 
arm his soldiers ; but he promptly informed them that such an 
attempt would meet with a vigorous resistance. Several days 
were now spent in holding councils. The soldiers from Green Bay 
requested the Ottawas to set their prisoners at liberty, to which 
the latter at length assented. Thinking only of how they might 
escape their troublesome foes, they prepared to depart. One dif- 
ficulty, however, yet remained. The Ojibwas (Chippewas) had 
declared that they would prevent the English from passing down 
to Montreal ; and again they had recourse to a council. A revul- 
sion of feeling, as we shall soon see, had already taken place 
among the Chippewa chiefs ; and at length, though reluctantly, 
they yielded the point. On the eighteenth day of July, 1763, 

Chicago, residing there and at Galena, Illinois, until 1839, where he spent 
much of his time in painting portraits of the Indians, and taking sketches 
of the Indian country in the region of Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Sub- 
sequently he followed his profession in New York City, Philadelphia, 
Penn., Baltimore, Md., and Troy, N. Y. In 1842, having in the mean- 
time become imbued with a love for Indian scenes and adventures, he 
traveled extensively over the great prairies of the West, painting the 
portraits in full costume of the leading warriors around Fort Gibson, 
Arkansas, and in Texas and New Mexico. He accompanied the Kearney 
and Emory expeditions across the Rocky Mountains, and, after perform- 
ing nmch important labor for the United States government in California, 
he visited Oregon and traversed the greater portion of the Columbia 
river, taking a large number of sketches of the scenery along the route 
and transferring them to canvas. Afterwards, he spent over a year in 
the Sandwich Islands, and, in 1851, settled in Washington, where he 
resided until 1863, when he returned to Detroit, residing there until his 
death, which occurred on the 10th of April, 1872, being caused from 
heart disease. 

During his residence in Washington, he placed in the Smithsonian 
Institute a large and very valuable collection of portraits of the leading 
Indian chiefs of this country, and when a portion of that building was 
destroyed by fire on January 24, 1865, these pictures were burned with 
it. This collection was the result, substantially, of eleven years of travel 
and labor, and their pecuniary value cannot be estimated. This gallery 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 237 

escorted by a fleet of Indian canoes, the English left L'Arbre 
Croche, and, on the thirteenth day of August, the whole party 
arrived in safety at Montreal, leaving not a British soldier in the 
region of the lakes except at Detroit. 

For a little more than a year after the massacre, Michilimacki- 
nac was only occupied by the coureurs des hois, and such Indian 
bands as chose to make it a temporary residence ; but, after the 
treaty with the Indians, Captain Howard, with a sufficiently 
large detachment of troops, was sent to take possession of that 
post ; and, once more, the English flag was a rallying point and 
the protection of the adventurous trader at Michilimackinac. 

We will now turn back, in point of time, and follow Mr. Henry 
to the end of his thrilling adventures, after which we will 
resume our narrative of the nine surprisals by Pontiac and his 
brave warriors. 

comprised one hundred and fifty-two paintings, mostly life-size, of the 
prominent chiefs and leading men of forty-two distinct tribes. 

The opportunities that Mr. Stanley had for acquiring a thorough insight 
into the habits and manners of the North American Indians will, per- 
haps, best be inferred from a brief outline of his labors and travels as a 
delineator of Indian life and character. These may be said to date from 
the visit to Fort Gibson, heretofore referred to. During his sojourn at 
this frontier post, he painted the portraits of Alligator, Wild Cat, Tiger, 
Big Warrior, and many other prominent Seminole chiefs, then living. 
Prom Fort Gibson, Mr. Stanley went with the party of Col. Pierce M. 
Butler, U. S. Commissioner, to attend a council of the Texas tribes of 
Indians at Wacco village on the Brazos river, where terms of a treaty 
were discussed, but not finally settled. From Wacco village he returned 
with the Butler party to Fort Smith, Arkansas, by a circuitous route, 
crossing the Eed river of the South at Shreveport, Louisiana, the whole 
distance being traversed] without a military escort. Shortly after his 
return, Mr. Stanley left Fort Smith to visit a council of Indians at 
Talequah, attended by seventeen different prairie and border tribes, where 
he found an excellent opportunity to study savage life in some of its most 
striking and interesting phases. Upon this occasion, over fifteen thou- 
sand Indians went daily through their favorite ball plays, dances and 
other diversions, and the opportunities thus afforded for enricliing his 
portfolio were fully improved. In 1843, he attended a council near Cache 
Creek, on the Red river of the South, and, in 1846, in the capacity of 



238 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

On the morning of the ninth of Jnne, a general council was 
held, at which it was resolved to remove to the Island of Macki- 
naw, situated in the Straits of Mackinac, to the north, as a more 
defensible situation, in the event of an attack by the English. 
The Indians had begun to entertain apprehensions of a want of 
strength. No news had reached them from the Pottawattamies, in 
the Bay des Paunts, and they were uncertain whether or not the 
Monomins would join them. They even feared that the Sioux 
would take the English side. Their minds made up on this 
point, they prepared for a speedy retreat. At noon, the camp was 
broken up, and they embarked, taking with them the prisoners 
that were still undisposed of, among whom was Henry, the hero 
of this romantic adventure. By the approach of evening, they 
reached the island in safety, and the women were not long in 
erecting their cabins. In the morning, there was a muster of the 

topographical draughtsman, he went with Gen. Kearney to New Mexico 
and California, passing along the Gila river, and this was the first time 
the American flag was ever unfurled in the Gila Valley. This expedition 
was frequently intercepted by Indians, but under the direction of the 
famous mountain guide and explorer, Kit Carson, they fought their way 
through. The march occupied three months. The expedition was 
severely handled at San Pasquale and San Bernardino, and, although Mr. 
Stanley lost all his clothing and other effects, he saved his sketches, paints 
and canvas. 

From San Diego, California, the artist proceeded to San Francisco, 
where he completed his oflScial engagement, and severed his connection 
with the public service. In 1847, he took with him some Indian guides, 
and made, at his own expense, a tour through the whole extent of the 
territory of Oregon. Having diligently observed the manners, customs 
and habits of tlie aborigines, sketched tlie beautiful scenerj^ and painted 
the principal chiefs and warriors of the different tribes, he returned to 
San Francisco, and engaged passage in a vessel homeward bound, by the 
Cape from Honolulu. On the way back, the artist passed some time on 
the Sandwich Islands, where he was engaged to paint the portraits of King 
Kamehameha I and his consort. It was from the Sandwich Islands that 
he shipped to the Atlantic States a large and valuable number of Indian 
curiosities collected in Oregon, which were unfortunately lost in the ship- 
wreck of a whaler. 

Mr. Stanley's fourth journey was made in the spring of 1853, when he 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 239 

Indians, at which there were foUnd three hundred and fifty fight- 
ing men. In the course of the day, a canoe arrived from Detroit, 
with ambassadors, who endeavored to prevail on the Indians to 
repair thither, to the assistance of Pontiac ; but fear was now the 
prevailing passion. A guard was kept during the day, and a 
watch by night, and alarms were very frequently spread. Had an 
enemy appeared, all the prisoners would have been put to death. 
It is not difficult to imagine the feelings of Henry and his fellow- 
prisoners at this time. 

One morning an alarm was given, and the Indians, in large 
numbers, ran toward the beach. In a short time it was ascer- 
tained that canoes from Monti-eal were in sight. All the Indian 
canoes were immediately manned, and those from Montreal sur- 
rounded and seized. The goods were consigned to a Mr. Levy, 
and would have been saved if the canoe-men had called them 

formed one of the party that accompanied Isaac L. Stevens, the first 
Governor of Washington Territory, on his survey of the Northern 
Pacific Railway route. In this tour, he traversed the continent from the 
head waters of the Mississippi river via Forts Benton and Union, the 
Kooky Mountain chain, and the Bitter Root Mountains (to the west of 
the Rocky), to Fort Coldville, one of the old Hudson Bay Company's 
stations, down the Columbia river to Fort Vancouver, and thence back 
by the Isthmus. It was with this party that Mr. Stanley became per- 
sonally and intimately acquainted with all the tribes on the upper waters 
of the Missouri — the Creeks, Assiniboins, Crows, Sioux, Blackfeet and 
others, dwelling in the regions east of the Rocky Mountains; and renewed, 
on this occasion, his acquaintance with the tribes on the Upper Colum- 
bia, whom he had already visited in 1847-48, after the Kearney expedition. 
In these eleven years, during which Mr. Stanley explored all that vast 
region vaguely described on the older maps as the "Indian Country," 
but which now comprises the States and Territories of Texas, New 
Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Dacota, 
Montana, Idaho, and the British Possessions, he had every opportunity 
to become familiar with the Nomads, whose home they have been since 
time immemorial. Mr. Stanley was thrown into more or less immediate 
contact with nearly all the tribes in the Western country, and he was 
therefore with justice regarded as one of the highest authorities on 
Indian life and character. The time when the red men, who were once 
the sole occupants of our prairies and forests, will survive only in song 



240 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

French property ; but they were so terrified that they disguised 
nothing. In the canoes was a large quantity of liquor — a dan- 
gerous acquisition, and one which threatened disturbance among 
the Indians, from their bloodthirsty recklessness while under its 
influence. 

Wawatam, always watchful of Henry's safety, no sooner heard 
the sounds of drunken revelry, in the evening, than he repre- 
sented to Henry the danger of remaining in the village, and 
owned that he could not himself resist the temptation of joining 
his comrades in the debauch. That he might escape all mischief, 
the Indian requested Henry to accompany him to the mountain, 
where he was to remain hidden till the liquor should be drunk. 
They ascended the mountain, accordingly. After walking more 
than half a mile, they came to a rock, at the base of which was 
an opening, dark within, and appearing to be the entrance of a 



and story, is not far distant; and these truthful and yet vivid delineations 
of a once great race of human beings will then constitute one of their 
best and most authentic records. 

To enumerate all of this artist's productions would be too extended an 
undertaking for a limited sketch like this. His most important recent 
work, " The Trial of Ked Jacket, ' is well known and has become popu- 
larized by the faithful chromo reproductions of the original work, which 
were executed in Berlin, Prussia. This celebrated painting was exhibited 
in all the principal cities of this country and many in Europe, and is 
now in Detroit at the residence of Mrs. Stanley. It is valued at |30,000. 
Among his productions are several of great interest, depicting events in 
the history of Michigan, which have also been reproduced in chromo-litho- 
graphs; and creditable portraits of distinguished men from all parts of the 
country have been painted by him. He endeavored, by all means in his 
power, to cultivate a love for art matters wherever he resided, and several 
years since, by the expenditure of a great amount of labor and time, he 
succeeded in organizing the Western Art Association, and opening a 
gallery of paintings, which is now a permanent and valuable acquisition 
to Detroit. 

Personally, he was a man among men. He was quiet, unobtrusive and 
gentlemanly — a thorough artist, and one who always had a good word 
for his fellows. He was greatly loved by those who knew him, and his 
death was lamented by all who were fortunate enough to have formed 
his acquaintance. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



241 



cave. Here Wawatam recommended that Henry should take up 
his lodgings, and by all means remain till he returned. 

The entrance to the cave Avas nearly ten feet wide ; and, on 
going in, he found the further end rounded like an oven, but with 




JAMES SHEARER. 

James Shearer, of Bay City, Michigan, was born in the city of 
Albany, JS^ew York, in 1823. 

In 1837, he emigrated to Michigan and settled in Detroit, where he 
resided until 1846, being engaged m business as an architect and builder. 
He was identified with many of the public and private enterprises con- 
tributing to the development of that city during his residence there, and 
enjoyed the entire confidence of his fellow citizens. 

In 1864, he removed to Bay Citj^, Michigan, and engaged in lumbering, 
16 



242 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

a further aperture — too small, however, to be explored. After 
thus looking around him, he broke small branches from the trees, 
and spread them for a bed, then wrapped himself in his blanket, 
and slept till daybreak. On waking, he found himself incom- 
moded by some object upon Avhich he was lying, and, removing it, 
found it to be a bone. This he supposed to be that of a deer, or 
some other animal ; but, when daylight visited his chamber, he 
discerned, with some feelings of horror, that he was lying on 
nothing less than a heap of human bones and skulls, which cov- 
ered the bottom of the cave. Henry passed the day without the 
return of Wawatam, and without food. As night approached, he 
found himself unable to meet its darkness in the charnel-house, 
which he had made his home during the day. He chose, there- 
fore, an adjacent bush for this night's lodging, and slept under it ; 
but, in the morning, he awoke hungry and dispirited, and almost 
envying the repose of the dead in the mountain cave, to the view 
of which he returned. At length the sound of a foot reached his 
ear, and his Indian friend appeared, making many apologies for 
his long absence, the cause of which was an unlbrtunate excess in 
the enjoyment of his liquor. 

On returning to the lodge Henry experienced a cordial wel- 
come from the family, which consisted of the wife of his friend, 
his two sons, of whom the eldest was married, and whose wife and 
a daughter of thirteen years of age completed the list. 

A few days after this occurrence, Minavavana, chief of the vil- 
lage of Michilimackinac, visited the lodge of Wawatam, and 
when the usual ceremony of smoking was finished, he observed 

banking, real estate and other occupations, with more than average suc- 
cess. Mr. Shearer has been President of the First National Bank, of 
Bay City, since January, 1868; President of the Lumberman's Associa- 
tion since its organization in 1870; President of the Bay City Water 
Works Commission since its formation in 1871; and is one of the present 
Commissioners on the building of the State Capital at Lansing. He is 
also a director in a number of other business associations in his city, and 
has frequently declined many offices of trust and honor, preferring rather 
to follow in the quiet channel of a business life, than to travel the 
tumultous road of the public servant. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 243 

that Indians were daily arriving from Detroit, some of whom 
had lost relations in the war, and who would certainly retaliate 
on any Englishman they found, upon which account he advised 
that Henry should be dressed like an Indian, an expedient by 
which he might hope to escape all future insult. He could not 
but assent to the proposal, and the chief was so kind as to 
assist Wawatam in effecting, that very day, the desired change. 
His hair was cut off, and his head shaven, with the exception of a 
spot on the crown of about twice the diameter of a silver dollar. 
His face was painted with three or four different colors, some 
parts of it red, and others black. A shirt was provided for him, 
painted with vermilion, mixed with grease. A large collar of 
wampum was put round his neck, and another suspended on his 
breast. Both his arms were decorated with large bands of silver 
above the elbows, besides several smaller ones on the wrists ; and 
his legs were covered Avith mitasses, a kind of hose, made of scar- 
let cloth. A scarlet mantle, or blanket, was placed on his shoul- 
ders, and his head was decorated with a large bunch of feathers. 

Protected in a great measure by this disguise, he felt himself 
more at liberty than before, and the season being arrived in which 
liis clerks from the interior were expected, and a portion of his 
property recovered, he begged the favor of Wawatam that he 
would enable him to pay a short visit to Michilimackinac. The 
Indian complied, and Henry found his clerks, but, owing to their 
misconduct, he obtained nothing. Indeed, he now began to think 
that he should require nothing during the remainder of his life. 
To fish and to hunt, to collect a few skins and exchange them for 
necessaries, was all that he seemed destined to do and to acquire 
for the future. 

He returned to the Indian village, where at this time much 
scarcity of food prevailed. They were often for twenty-four hours 
without eating a morsel, and when, in the morning, they had no 
victuals for the day before them, the custom was to black their 
faces with charcoal, and exhibit thorough resignation and a tem- 
per as cheerful as if in the midst of plenty. A continuance of 
this famine, however, soon compelled them to leave the island in 
search of food ; and they departed for the Bay of Boutchitaony, 



244 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

distaut eight miles, where they found plenty of wild fowl and fish. 
Leaving the bay mentioned, Henry, with his friend Wawatam, 
and family, went to St. Martin's Island, where, in the enjoyment 
of an excellent and plentiful supply of food, they remained till 
the twenty-sixth of August. It was now proposed by Wawatam, 
to Henry's great joy, to go to his wintering quarters. Prepara- 
tion being made, they proceeded to the mouth of the River Aux 
Sables, and, " as they hunted along their way," says Henry, " I 
enjoyed a personal freedom, of which I had long been deprived, 
and became as expert in the Indian pursuits as the Indians them- 
selves." The winter was spent in the chase ; and, by degrees, 
Henry became familiarized with that kind of life ; and, had it not 
been for the idea, of which he could not divest his mind, that he 
was living among savages, and for the whisper of a lingering hope 
that he should one day be released from it, he could have 
enjoyed as much happiness in this as in any other situation. 

At the approach of spring, the hunters began their prepara- 
tions for returning to Michilimackinac ; but their faces were no 
sooner turned towards the scene of the massacre, than all began 
to fear an attack from the English. On the twenty-seventh of 
April, 1764, they landed at the fort of Michilimackinac. The 
Indians who had arrived befoz'e them were few in number, and, 
as yet, Henry was treated with great civility. 

With his earnings of the w^inter's chase Henry procured clothes, 
of which he was much in need, having been six mouths without 
a shirt. In addition, he purchased a good store of ammunition 
and tobacco, which exhausted his resources. Eight days had 
passed in tranquillity, when there arrived a band of Indians from 
the Bay of Saguenaum. They had assisted at the siege of 
Detroit, and were now trying to muster recruits for that service. 
Henry was soon informed that, as he was the only Englishman in 
the place, they jjroposed to kill him, in order to give their friends 
a mess of English broth, to raise their courage. This intelligence 
was not of the most agreeable kind, and he requested his Indian 
friend to carry him to the Sault Ste. Marie, at which place he 
knew the Indians to be peaceably inclined, and that M. Cadotte, 
a resident of that place, enjoyed a powerful influence over their 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



245 



conduct. They considered Cadotte as their chief, and it is said he 
was a friend to the English. It was by him that the Chippewas 
of Lake Superior were prevented from joining Pontine. Wawa- 
tam complied, and that same night transported Henry and his 




LORENZO B. CURTIS. 

LoBENZo B. Curtis, of Saginaw City, was born in Boston, Erie county, 
New York, May 3, 1831. He emierated to Michigan witli liis father, 
Benjamin Curtis, in September, 1830, and settled in Vicksburg, Wash- 
tenaw county. In the spring of the succeeding year his father purchased 
a farm in the township of Green Oak, Livingston county, and there the 
family immediately moved. They, with the family of Mr. Stephen Lee, 
were the first white settlers in the county. 

It was in the common schools of this county that the subject of this 
sketch received his education. His father dying in the summer of 1834, 



246 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

own lodge to Point St. Ignace, on the opposite side of the Strait. 
Here they remained till daylight. The following day, Henry 
hailed a canoe on the way to the Sault, and, finding that it con- 
tained the wife of Cadotte, already mentioned, he obtained per- 
mission to accompany the party. Henry bid his Indian friends 
farewell ; and, putting on his Canadian suit, took his seat in the 
canoe. After an agreeable journey, they arrived safe at the Sault, 
where Henry received a generous welcome from Cadotte. He had 
been at this place but six days, when he was informed that a 
canoe full of warriors was approaching, with the intention of kill- 
ing him. Nearly at the same time he received a message from 
the chief of the village, telling him to conceal himself. A garret 
was, a second time, his place of refuge ; and, through the influence 
of Cadotte, his life was spared. 

At this juncture the village was astir, on account of a canoe 
which had just arrived from Niagara. The strangers bore a mes- 
sage from Sir William Johnson, desiring the Indians of the Sault 
to send deputies to a great council, or feast, to be held at 

he, being the oldest of seven children, was left in charge of the family. 
To fulfill this duty he carried on his father's farm for the two succeeding 
years, when, his mother marrying again, he started out in life for him- 
self, working at farming and taking jobs at clearing land during the 
summer seasons, and attending school during the winters. In 1845 he 
removed to Genesee county, and purchased a saw mill ten miles north of 
Flint. After running this for two years it burned down, and with it 
about half a million feet of lumber, his barn and house, leaving him pen- 
niless and $1,000 in debt. Nothing daunted, he removed to Saginaw in 
the spring of 1848, and at once wont into the employ of Judge Gardner 
D. Williams, with whom he remained until he spring of 1852. He then 
was engaged by Capt. Millard, and after working for him one year, he 
rented the captain's saw mill, and shortly afterwards purchased it. Since 
that time he has been constantly engaged in the lumbering business, first 
in the firm of Curtis & King, until 18(54, next in the firm of Curtis & 
Corning, until 1870, and since that time in the firm of L. B. Curtis & Co. 
Mr. Curtis was appointed swamp land State road commissioner by 
Governor Crapo in 1867, and held the position during the different admin- 
istrations until the fall of 1872, when he resigned. He has held several 
other important ofllices in his town and city, and has given universal 
satisfaction in all the positions he has filled. 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 247 

Niagara. After a short consultation, it Avas agreed to send 
twenty deputies. Henry seized upon this opportunity of leaving 
the country ; and,, having received the permission of the great 
chief to accompany the deputation, he did so, and thereby escaped 
from the hands of his persecutors, after trials and tribulations 
seldom paralleled in the romance of Indian history. 



CHAPTER XVL 



Conspiracy of Pontiac Continued — The Plot to Destroy the Gar- 
rison OF Detroit Discovered — Pontiac Commences the Siege — 
Captain Campbell's Captivity — Pontiac Demands the Surren- 
der op the Fort. 

We now turn from Michilimackinac to the events tliat were 
transpiring elsewhere. On the fifth of May, 1763, a Canadian 
woman left her home at Detroit, and passed over to the Ottawa 
village, on the eastern side of the river, for the purpose of obtain- 
ing a supply of venison from the Indians of that village. She 
noticed several of the warriors filing off the barrels of their guns, 
so as to reduce them, stock and all, to the length of about a yard. 
Returning home in the evening, she told her neighbors what she 
had seen. This, and other circumstances, excited the suspicions 
of the Canadians who had the welfare and peace of the commu- 
nity at heart ; and one M. Gouin, an old and wealthy settler, 
went to the commandant, and warned him to stand upon his guard, 
but Gladwyn, a man of fearless temper, slighted the advice. It 
is difficult to determine who Gladwyn's informant was ; but, 
before the next day had closed, he was in possession of a com- 
plete knowledge of the plot, and actively preparing to meet the 
emergency. On the following page we present an engraving, 
which, if there be truth in tradition, illustrates the unveiling of 
this conspiracy. The story, as related to Carver, is as follows : 
In the Pottawattamie village lived an Ojibwa girl, who could 
boast of a larger share of beauty than is common in the wigwam. 
She had attracted the eye of Gladwyn, and there is no doubt 
that she loved the British officer with all the ardor of her untu- 
tored mind. On the afternoon of the sixth, Catherine, as she was 
called by the officers of the fort, came to Detroit, and repaired to 
Gladwyn's quarters, bringing with her a pair of elk-skin mocca- 
sins, ornamented with porcupine work, which he had requested 



250 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

her to make. There was something unusual in her look and 
manner. Her face was sad and downcast. She said little, and 
soon left the room ; but the sentinel at the door saw her still 
lingering at the street corner, though the hour for closing the 
gates was nearly come. At length, she attracted the notice of 
Gladwyn himself, and, calling her to him, he pressed her to 
declare what was weighing upon her mind. Still she remained 
for a long time silent ; and it was only after much urgency, and 
many promises not to betray her, that she revealed her momentous 
secret. " To-morrow," she said, " Pontiac will come to the fort, 
with sixty of his chiefs. Each will be armed with a gun, cut 
short, and hidden under his blanket. Pontiac will demand to 
hold a council, and, after he has delivered his speech, he will offer 
a peace-belt of wampum, holding it in a reversed position. This 
will be the signal of attack. The chiefs will spring up and fire 
upon the officers, and the Indians in the street will fall upon the 
garrison. Every Englishman will be killed, but not the scalp of 
a single Frenchman Avill be touched." Whether or not this was 
the true source of Gladwyn's information, it is difficult now to 
determine ; but he was, through some instrumentality, told that 
an attempt would be made, on the seventh, to capture the fort, 
through treachery. 

He summoned his officers and told them what he had heard. 
The defenses of the place occupied a large area, and were quite 
feeble, and the garrison was too weak to repel a general assault. 
The force of the Indians at this time is variously estimated at 
from six hundred to two thousand ; and the commandant greatly 
feared that some wild impulse might change their plans, and that 
they would storm the fort before the morning. Gladwyn, accord- 
ingly, prepared his garrison for a sudden emergency. He ordered 
half the soldiers under arms, and the officers to spend the night 
upon the ramparts. Night came on, and, from sunset till dawn, 
an anxious watch Avas kept from the slender palisades of Detroit. 
The soldiers were all ignorant of the danger, and the sentinels 
were anxious to know why their numbers were doubled. Again, 
and again, through that long and dreary night, the commandant 
mounted his wooden ramparts, and looked forth into the gloom. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 251 

All was still, save at intervals, when the wind bore from the dis- 
tance the sound of the Indian drum, and the wild chorus of 
Indian yells, as the warriors danced the war dance round their 
camp-fires on Belle Isle. 

The night passed away quietly at the fort, but, with the morn- 
ing, came evidences of intended massacre. The sun rose clear, 
and the fresh fields seemed to smile with the verdure of spring. 
The morning mists were scarcely dispelled, when the little garri- 
son observed a fleet of canoes crossing the river from the western 
shore, not more than a cannon shot above the fort. Only two or 
three warriors could be seen in each, but the slow and steady 
motion of the canoes indicated greater numbers. In truth, they 
were full of savages, lying flat upon their faces, that their num- 
bers might not be the cause of suspicion among the English. As 
the morning advanced, the common behind the fort was thronged 
with squaws, children and warriors ; some naked, and others dec- 
orated with all the fantastic bravery of savage costume. Many 
of them moved toward the gate, and all were admitted; for 
Gladwyn determined not only to prove to them that he had 
detected their plot, but that he despised their hostility. The 
whole garrison was ordered under ai-ms; the merchants closed 
their stores, man}'^ of them arming themselves, with the intention 
of aiding the garrison in the defense of the fort, and all stood 
waiting, in cool confidence, the result that was soon to follow. 
Meanwhile, Pontiac was approaching along the river road, at the 
head of sixty chiefs, all marching in Indian file. At ten o'clock, 
the great chief reached the fort, with his treacherous followers. 
All were wrapped to the throat in colored blankets. Some were 
crested with hawk, eagle, or raven plumes ; others had only the 
fluttering scalp-lock of the crown ; while others wore their long, 
black hair flowing loosely at their backs, or wildly hanging about 
their brows, like a lion's mane. For the most part they were tall, 
strong men, and all had the gait and bearing of brave war- 
riors. " As Pontiac entered," says Parkman, " it is said that he 
started, and that a deep ejaculation half escaped his lips." Well 
might his stoicism fail, for, at a glance, he read the ruin of his 
plot. On either hand, within the gateway, stood ranks of sol- 



252 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

diers and hedges of glittering steel. The swarthy engages of the 
fur-traders, armed to the teeth, stood in groups at the street cor- 
ners, and the measured tap of a drum fell ominously on the ear. 
Soon regaining his composure, Poutiac strode forward into the 
narrow streets, and his chiefs filed after him in silence, while the 
scared faces of women and children looked out from the windows 
as they passed. Their rigid muscles betrayed no signs of emo- 
tion ; yet, looking closely, one might have seen their small eyes 
glance from side to side with restless scrutiny. Traversing the 
entire length of the little town, they reached the door of the 
council house, a large building near the margin of the river. On 
entering, they saw Gladwyn, with several of his officers, seated in 
readiness to receive them, and the observant chiefs did not fail to 
remark that every Englishman wore a sword at his side, and a 
pair of pistols in his belt. The conspirators eyed each other with 
uneasy glances. " Why," demanded Pontiac, " do I see so many 
of my father's young men standing in the street with their guns ?" 
Gladwyn replied, through his interpreter, La Butte, that he had 
ordered the soldiers under arms for the sake of exercise and dis- 
cipline. With delay, and many signs of distrust, the chiefs sat 
down on the mats prepared for them, and, after the customary 
pause, Pontiac rose to speak. Holding in his hand the wampum 
belt, which was to have given the fatal signal, he addressed the 
commandant, jirofessiug strong attachment to the English, and 
declaring, in Indian phrase, that he had come to smoke the pipe 
of peace and brigliten the chain of friendship. The officers 
watched him keenly as he uttered these hollow words, fearing 
lest, though conscious that his designs were suspected, he might 
still attempt to accomplish them. And once, it is said, he raised 
the wampum belt, as if about to give the signal of attack ; but, 
at that instant, Gladwyn signed slightly with his hand. The 
sudden clash of arms sounded from the passage without, and a 
drum rolling the charge, filled the council room with its stunning 
din. At this, Pontiac stood like one confounded. Seeing Glad- 
wyn's unruffled brow, and his calm eye fixed steadfastly upon 
him, he knew not what to think, and soon sat down, in amaze- 
ment and jjerplexity. Another paxise ensued, and Gladwyn com- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 253 

menced a brief reply. He assured the chiefs that friendship and 
protection should be extended towards them as long as they con- 
tinued to deserve it, but threatened vengeance for the first act of 
aggression. The council then broke up. The gates of the fort, 




RT. REV. SAMUEL A. M'COSKRY. 

Samuel A. McCoskky, the present Bishop of the Episcopal Church, 
for the Diocese of ^licliigan, was l)orn in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Novem- 
ber 9, 1804. 



254 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

which had been closed during the conference, were again flung 
open, and the savages were suffered to depart unmolested. 

" Gladwyn," says Parkman, " has been censured, and, perhaps, 
with justice, for not detaining the chiefs as hostages for the good 
conduct of their followers." Perhaps the commandant feared 
that, if he should arrest the chiefs when gathered at a public 
council, and guiltless of open violence, the act might be regarded 
as cowardly and dishonorable. Further than this, he was not 
aware of the magnitude of the plot. He regarded the affair as 
one of those impulsive outbreaks, so common among the Indians, 
and he hoped that the threatening cloud would soon blow over. 

Disappointed in his aims of treachery, Pontiac withdrew to his 
village, enraged and mortified, yet determined to persevere. 
After a consultation with his chiefs, he resolved to visit the fort 
again ; and, accordingly, on the following day, he repaired to the 
council room, with three of his chiefs, bearing in his hand the 
sacred calumet, or pipe of peace. Offering it to the commandant, 
he addressed him and his officers to the following effect : " My 
fathers, evil birds have sung lies in your ears. We that stand 
before you are friends of the English. We love them as our 
brothers ; and, to prove our love, we have come this day to smoke 



Bishop McCoskry's early studies were pursued under the direction of 
Major Kearsley, of Detroit, who, after the war of 1812, took charge of 
the grammar school in Dickinson College. 

In 1820, he received a cadetship appointment to the Military Academy 
at West Point, then in charge of Colonel Thayer, of the U. S. Engineers, 
Colonel Worth being the commandant of the cadets. He entered this 
institution with a very large class, at the age of fifteen years and eight 
months, and found the discipline and studies very severe. The first year 
he was third in mathematics and sixth in French, which made him rank 
fourth in general average. In military studies, he stood with the first, 
and was appointed a non-commissioned officer — the highest rank he could 
obtain in the class. He remained at West Point nearly two years, when, 
on the death of his brother, who was a surgeon in the United States 
Army, he resigned and retui-ned to his home in Carlisle. 

Dickinson College was .then under the care of the celebrated Dr. John 
M. Mason, who had associated with him some of the most distinguished 
scholars in the country. Bishop McCoskry passed through the four years 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 255 

the pipe of peace." Wheu Pontiac left the fort, he gave the 
pipe to Captain Campbell, as a further pledge of his sincerity. 

On the following day, the ninth of May, the Indians began to 
congregate on the common, near the fort ; and Pontiac advanced, 
once more, to the gate. It was closed against him. He demanded 
of the sentinels, in a haughty manner, an explanation ; but Glad- 
wyn replied that there was no objection to the great chief enter- 
ing, if he chose ; but that the crowd he had brought with him 
must remain outside. Pontiac asked permission for his chiefs to 
enter with him, but to this he received a prompt refusal. Pon- 
tiac then turned from the gate in great rage, and strode toward 
his followers, who lay, in great numbers, flat upon the ground, 
just beyond the reach of gun-shot. At his approach, they all 
leaped up and ran off towards the house of an English woman, 
who lived, with her family, on a distant part of the common. 
They beat down the doors, and rushed in. In a few moments, 
they had brutally murdered all the inmates. Another large 
party ran down to the river's edge, leaped into their canoes, and 
paddled, with all speed, to the Isle au Cochon, where an English- 
man, named Fisher, resided. They dragged him from his hiding- 
place, murdered him on the spot, and took his scalp. Pontiac 

course of this institution in two years and three months, and received 
the fourth honor in the graduating class. 

He entered upon the study of the law, under the distinguished lawyer, 
Andrew Carothers, Esq., at Carlisle, and was admitted to practice in 
eighteen months from the time he commenced studying. After practic- 
ing one year, he was appointed deputy attorney -general for his county, 
which position he held two years. He remained at the bar for six years, 
building up a large and lucrative practice. 

Having been for several years a member of St. John's Episcopal 
Church, at Carlisle, under the care of the Rev. L. Hare, he then com- 
menced the study of Divinity, under the charge of the Right Reverend 
H. U. Uuderdook, then Assistant Bishop of Pennsylvania. During his 
probation studies, he was invited to take charge of Christ Church, 
Reading, Pennsylvania, as a lay reader. The church would not call a 
pastor, and he continued to oflBciate in it for one year, when and where 
he was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Underdook. He was called to 
take charge of the parish the day of his ordination, and remained 



256 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

had not taken any part in these murders. AVhen he saw his 
second plan defeated, he turned towards the shore, no man daring 
to follow him in his terrible mood. Pushing a canoe from the 
bank, he paddled it to the opposite shore, where stood a village 
of the Ottawas. Arriving at this place, he ordered the inhabit- 
ants to cross the stream, and encamp on the western shore, that 
the river might no longer interpose a barrier between his followers 
and the English. Preparation for the removal was made at 
once ; but, before the embarkation, Pontiac delivered his great 
war speech. He was surrounded by his warriors, who, catching 
his enthusiasm, commenced the hideous war dance, circling round 
and round, wdth frantic gestures, and startling the distant garri- 
son with their unearthly yells. When this performance was over, 
the work of transporting the tribe and their movables to the 
opposite side of the river was commenced ; and, long before the 
morning, the transfer was completed. The whole Ottawa popu- 
lation crossed the river, and pitched their wigwams on the western 
side, just above Parent's Creek, afterwards appropriately named 
Bloody Run. During the same evening, fresh new\s of disaster 
reached the fort. Two English c^fhcers, Sir Robert Davers and 
Captain Robertson, had been waylaid and murdered by the 
Indians, above Lake St. Clair. The same messenger declared 

its pastor one year, when he was invited to take charge of St. Paul's 
Church, in Philadelphia, which invitation he accepted at the earnest 
solicitation of Bishop White, remaining in the parish two years. 

At the close of this time, he was nominated by the same Bishop to the 
Bishopric of Michigan, and the nomination was concurred in hy tht' 
Bishops, and he was consecrated in St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia, 
July 7, 1836. 

He entered upon his duties as Bishop of Michigan and Hector of St. 
Paul's Church, Detroit, on the 38th of August, 183G. Bishop McCoskry 
performed these twofold duties, without an assistant, for twenty-seven 
years, when he was relieved of the care of a parish, sufficient funds 
having been provided to support him as the Bishop of the diocese with- 
out other labors. 

In the discharge of the responsible work of this important position, 
Bishop McCoskry has continued in uninterrupted good health, and with a 
thankful heart for the help of God in his labors. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



257 



that Pontiac had just been reinforced by a large band of Ojibwas, 
from Saginaw Bay. 

Every man in the fort was now ordered under arms, and the 
little garrison spent the night full of anxiety, expecting every 




HON. S. M. GREEN. 

Sanford M. Green, of Bay City, was born May 30, 1807, at Grafton, 
Rensselaer county, N. Y. He is a descendant of the Greens of Rhode 
Island. 

His father was a farmer of limited estate, and uneducated. He per- 
mitted this son to purchase his time at the age of sixteen years, and at 
that early age, he left the parental roof. During the next three years he 
labored on a farm for wages, and applied himself to study in the inter- 
vals of labor, under a private instructor. Up to this time, he had never 
had any instruction in, nor given any attention to, geography or English 
17 



258 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

moment to hear the war-whoop under the walls of the fort. 
Gladwyn walked the ramparts throughout the whole night, for he 
had now begun to have serious apprehensions for the fate of his 
command. The night was quiet, but, with the dawn, came a burst 
of Indian yells, and in a moment the warriors swarmed to the 
attack. The bullets from the savage guns rapped hard and fast 
against the palisades, and the soldiers within flew to their posts, 
expecting that the Indians would make a rush against the weak 
barrier that surrounded them. The savages were firing from 
behind hills, trees, barns, or whatever afforded them shelter, and 
the guns of the fort replied with steadiness, and, in some 
instances, with good efiect. A short distance from the fort 
stood a cluster of out-buildings, behind which a large number 
of Indians found shelter and opportunity to harass the garrison. 
A cannon was brought to bear upon them, loaded with red-hot 
spikes. The buildings once in flames, the Indians ran toward the 
woods, yelping with rage. The assault continued for six hours ; 
until, seeing their efibrts were futile, the Indians slackened their 

grammar. At the age of nineteen, he had qualified himself to teach, 
though he had only attended school, and that a common school, for three 
months. For two years he taught school in winter and continued to 
labor on a farm through the remainder of the year. 

In 1829, he commenced the study of law, and, in the same year, cast 
his first vote for President Jackson. He read law for a time with 
Geo. C. Sherman, and afterwards with Judge Ford, eminent lawyers of 
New York; still later, he pursued his reading in the office of Stirling & 
Bronson, of Watertown. 

Having pursued his studies for five years, he was admitted to the bar 
as an attorney at law and solicitor in chancery. He went into practice 
at Brownville, N. Y., and pursued it there until 1835, when he removed 
to the city of Rochester, where he became partner of the late Hon. H. L. 
Stevens. On Mr. Stevens removing to Michigan, a year afterwards, he 
formed a partnership with I. A. Eastman, Esq., with whom he continued 
until 1887. In the spring of that year he became interested in the land 
on which the city of Owosso, Michigan, has since been built, and w^ent 
there to reside. He assisted in laying the foundation of that thriving 
town, and coutimu'd to live there for six years. During this period, he 
held the offices of justice of the peace, supervisor, assessor of a school 
district and prosecuting attorney of Shiawassee county. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 259 

wild yelLs, and retired. During this engagement, five of the 
British had been wounded, while the injury sustained by the 
Indians was but trifling. 

The garrison was once more enjoying peace, when Gladwyn, 
still deeming the attack which they had just sufiered wsis 
only an outburst of Indian restlessness, and, being in great 
want of provisions, determined to open negotiations with the 
Indians by which he might be able to obtain the necessary sup- 
plies. La Butte, the interpreter of the fort, was despatched to 
the camp of the great chief with a message from Gladwyn, offer- 
ing to redress any real grievances of which he might complain. 
Two old Canadians, named Chapeton and Godefroy, offered to 
accompany the interpreter, and advance any measure looking 
toward a peace between the Indians and the English. The gates 
of the fort were now thrown open, and the three deputies 
departed, to hold an interview with the Indian king. Pontiac 
received them with kindness. La Butte delivered his message, 
and Pontiac seemed much pleased with his offer, when the inter- 
preter withdrew, leaving the two Canadians to urge the case still 

At the election, in 1842, he was elected State senator, and served for 
two years. At the close of his term as senator, in 1844, he was appointed 
by the chancellor and judges of the supreme court to revise the statutes of 
the State, and was required to report his revision at the commencement 
of the legislative session of 1846. He served, during this term, in the 
Senate as chairman of the judiciary committee. As such he reported the 
bill providing for that revision, and for the appointment, by the gofernor, 
of a commissioner to prepare it. The bill was passed by the Senate 
in this form. After it went to the House the question was started, who 
should be appointed commissioner. Senator Green was the general 
choice; but, under the bill which he reported, and as it passed the Sen- 
ate, he was ineligible, as the then constitution prohibited the appointment 
by the governor of any person to an office created by the Legislature of 
which he was a member. To obviate this objection, the House amended 
the bill so as to transfer the appointing power to the judiciary, and the 
amendment was concurred in by the Senate. His appointment was 
recommended by the entire Senate, with one or two exceptions, and by 
all the professional men in the House. 

In 1843, he removed to Pontiac, and there he prepared his revision. 
It was reported at the time prescribed; was adopted by the Legislature, 



260 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

further. Returning to the fort, he informed the coiumauder that 
the Indians could be easily pacified by giving them a few pres- 
ents ; but, when he returned to the Indian camp, he found, to his 
great dissatisfaction, that his companions had made no progress 
with the chief whatever. Although professing a strong desire for 
peace, he haughtily refused to accept any definite proposal. 
When La Butte again returned, all the Indian chiefs withdrew, 
to hold a consultation among themselves. After a short absence, 
they returned, and Pontiac declared that, wishing to come to a 
satisfactory understanding, he and his chiefs desired to hold a 
council with their English fathers themselves. This seemed a 
very reasonable j^roposition, and the deputies returned to the fort 
and cheerfully announced Pontiac's request. They stated that 
the chiefs would be satisfied to negotiate with Captain Campbell, 
with whom they had always been on the most friendly terms. 
When Gladwyn heard this, he suspected treachery, and advised 
Captain Campbell not to go ; but the latter gentleman, feeling a 
confidence in his influence with the Indians, urged the command- 
ant to permit him to comply with Pontiac's request. At length, 

witli some amendments, and went into effect March 1st, 1847. He was 
reelected to the Senate immediately before making his report. 

On the resignation of Judge Ransom, in 1848, after his election as gov- 
ernor, and the transfer of Judge Whipple to the third circuit to fill the 
vacancy, Judge Green was appointed to fill the vacancy in the fourth cir- 
cuit as Judge Whipple's successor. In this i)osition of circuit judge, 
and ex officio judge of the supreme court, of which he was presiding judge 
for two years, he served until the reorganization of the latter court in 
1858. After this change in the judiciary, he continued to hold the office 
of circuit judge of the sixth circuit, until 1807, when he resigned. He 
immediately removed to Bay City, and thenceforth devoted himself to 
the practice of the law, until he was appointed, in June, 1872, circuit 
judge of the eighteenth circuit, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of 
Judge Greer. In this position he is still acting. 

In 1860, he prepared and published a work on the practice of the circuit 
courts. An edition of twelve hundred copies was issued, and so eagerly 
was it sought for by the profession, that nearly every copy has been sold. 

The important and conspicuous part performed by Judge Green, offi- 
cially and otherwise, in giving judicious form and system to the statutes 
and the practice of the courts of this State, and in improving its general 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 261 

he gave his consent, and Campbell left the fort, accompanied by 
Lieutenant McDougal, La Butte, and several Canadians. When 
they reached the Indian camp, Pontiac came forward and shook 
them by the hand, and led them to his camp, where, mats being 
spread for the purpose, he ordered them to be seated. Instantly, 
the lodge was thronged with savages. Pontiac spoke a few words, 
when the usual pause ensued. This was ended by Campbell, who 
addressed the Indians in a short speech. It was heard in per- 
fect silence, and fully an hour passed before the Indians made 
any reply, or turned their scrutinizing gaze from the officers. At 
length. Captain Campbell, conscious of the danger which threat- 
ened him, and being determined to fully ascertain his true position, 
rose, and signified his intention of returning to the camp. At 
this, Pontiac made a sign that he should resume his seat, and 
said, " My father will sleep to-night in the lodges of his red chil- 
dren." 

The Indians were resolved to kill Campbell and his English 
companions on the spot, but Pontiac would not allow them to do 
so. He protected them from injury and insult, and conducted 
them to the house of M. Meloche, near Parent's Creek, where decent 

jurisprudence, is wortliy of a more extended notice than is admissible in 
this brief memoir. 

The revised statutes of 1846 have remained now for a quarter of a cen- 
tury, and no efibrt lias been made to supersede it by another. Two com- 
pilations have been made to bring together in convenient form the 
numerous changes made necessary by national events, by the expanding 
enterprise of the times, and the rapid development of our local resources, 
but the general features of that revision remain. His judicial record, 
for over twenty years as a nisi jmus ]udge, and for ten years in the court 
of last resort, is creditable alike to the State and to him. The opinions of 
the court prepared and read by him, published in the first four volumes 
of the Michigan Reports, are clear and forcible in style; they show a 
thorough acquaintance with the subjects involved, a modest deference to 
the current of decisions by other courts, a clear perception of the ethical 
philosophy of the law, a constant appreciation of its great purpose, and 
a bold adherence to recognized principles. These contain the results of 
his mature judgment after deliberate consideration. But he has exhi- 
bited, in his long service at the circuit, a wider range of judicial qualities 
than can be called into exercise in a purely appellate court. He possesses 



262 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

quarters were assigned them. Their danger was diminished by 
the fact that Gladwyn, at the same time, detained two Indians, 
for some offense, as prisoners in the fort. When La Butte 
returned to the fort, and informed the commandant of the deten- 
tion of the officers, a sadness and melancholy pervaded the whole 
garrison. 

Pontiac now began operations with greater vigor than ever. 
Receiving additional reinforcements, he made several changes in 
the disposition of his forces. A band of warriors were ordered 
to lie in wait along the river bank, below the fort, while others 
concealed themselves in the woods. Another band was stationed 
in the neighborhood of the fort. These were ordered to conceal 
themselves, and shoot down any soldier or trader who might hap- 
pen to expose his person, when no general attack was in progress. 
These arrangements were completed on the eleventh of May, 
1768, when a number of Canadians visited the fort, and advised 
the commandant to abandon the post, saying that it would be 
stormed, in less than an hour, by fifteen hundred Indians. Glad- 
wyn refused, and, in half an hour afterward, the savages renewed 
the attack on the fort. This was kept up till evening, when the 

rare qualifications for the nisi jnivs bench, for tlie trial of questions of 
fact. His analytical mind enables him at once to put aside what is for- 
eign to the subject of inquiry, and to so classify the material evidentiary 
facts, as to disentangle the most intricate case, and bring order out of 
apparent chaos. His knowledge of the law is profound; he has mastered 
and digested it as a great moral science. In the administration of it, he 
is ready without being precipitate, dignified without austerity, patient 
and attentive to arguments, and independent and uniformly impartial in 
his decisions. He is ever serene and self-possessed, however the bustle 
and excitement of important trials may affect parties, counsel or the pub- 
lic. He is popular with the profession, and enjoys the fullest confidence 
of the public. On his retirement from the bench, in 1867, he was ten- 
dered a public dinner at Pontiac, and the festive occasion was empha- 
sized by the presentation of a beautiful silver service, with toasts and 
speeches abounding in compliments, well merited, and which had the 
ring of "well done, good and faithful servant." Nor is Judge Green 
a mere judge or jurist; his reading has been extensive. He is, in short, 
a man of refinement and general culture, of broad and liberal views, 
social, public spirited — a just and good man. S. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 263 

Indians retired. Soon after, a Canadian visited the fort, with a 
summons from Pontiac, demanding Gladwyn to surrender the post 
at once, and promising that, in case of compliance, the English 
should be allowed to go on board of their vessels unmolested, 
leaving their arms and effects behind. To this the commandant 
gave a flat refusal. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



Conspiracy of Pontiac Continued — A Council among the Officers 
OP THE Fort of Detroit — Gladwyn Determines to Hold Out 
— Difficulty Between Pontiac and the French — Fate of 
Cuyler's Expedition — The Horrors of Indian Warfare 
Thickening Around Detroit. 

The officers of the fort of Detroit now assembled to consider 
what measures would be most advisable in the emergency. It is 
recorded that Gladwyn was alone in the opinion that the defense 
of the place should be continued — the others urging the policy of 
an immediate surrender and embarkation for Niagara. Their 
condition was, indeed, a deplorable one. The provisions on hand 
would not sustain the garrison more than three weeks, within 
which time it was madness to hope for succor. But this was not 
their only source of fear. The wooden houses of the fort were 
thatched with straw, and might be set on fire, and the enemy 
might make a general onset, and cut or burn their way 
through the pickets. Resistance would then be useless. " Day 
after day," says Parkman, " the Indians continued their attacks, 
until their war cries and the rattle of their guns became familiar 
sounds. For many weeks no man lay down to sleep, except in 
his clothes, and with his weapons by his side. Parties of volun- 
teers sallied, from time to time, to burn the out-buildings, which 
gave shelter to the enemy. They cut down orchard trees and lev- 
eled fences, until the ground about the fort was clear and open, 
and the enemy had no cover left from whence to fire. The two 
vessels in the river, sweeping the northern and southern curtains 
of the works with their fire, deterred the Indians from approach- 
ing those points, and gave material aid to the garrison. Still, 
worming their way through the grass, the pertinacious savages 
would crawl close to the palisades, and shoot arrows, tipped 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



265 



with burning tow, upon the roofs of the houses ; but water was 
everywhere provided against such an emergency, and these 
attempts proved abortive. The little church, which stood near 
the palisades, was particularly exposed, and would probably have 




HON. MOSES B. HESS. 

Moses B. Hess, an enterprising citizen of East Saginaw, was born in 
tlie town of Verona, Oneida county. New York, July 3, 1821. 

At ten years of age, lie emigrated to Michigan and took up his residence 
at Hartland, Livingston county, where he worked on a farm until he 
removed to Brighton, in the same county. Here he served two years in 
the copper, tin and sheet-iron business. 

In 1847, and before the State buildings were erected, he moved to 
Lansing, where he was assistant postmaster and State librarian until 



266 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

been set on fire, had not the priest of the settlement threatened 
Poutiac with the vengeance of the Great Spirit, should he be 
guilty of such sacrilege. Pontiac neglected no expedient that his 
savage tactics could supply. He went further, and begged the 
French inhabitants to teach him the Euroj^ean method of attack- 
ing a fortified place by regular approaches ; but the rude Cana- 
dians knew as little of the matter as he ; or if, by chance, a few 
were better informed, they wisely preferred to conceal their 
knowledge. Soon after the first attack, the Ottawa chief had 
sent in to Gladwyn a summons to surrender ; assuring him that, 
if the place were at once given up, he might embark on board 
the vessels, with all his men, but that, if he persisted in his 
defense, he would burn him alive. To this Gladwyn made answer 
that he cared nothing for his threats. The attacks were now 
renewed with increased activity ; and the assailants were soon 
after inspired with fresh ardor by the arrival of a hundred and 
twenty Ojibwas. Every man in the fort now slept upon the 
ramparts, yet confidence and cheerfulness still prevailed among 
the weary garrison." 

Had it not been for the assistance of a few Canadians, who 
lived on the opjiosite side of the river, and who provided the gar- 
rison with food, Detroit would have been abandoned, or destroyed. 

1850. His services in tlie latter ofBce were such as to merit and receive 
a special resolution of thanks from the State senate. 

In 1850, he removed to what is now East Saginaw, and still makes that 
his home. From that time, he has been closely identified with the 
growth of that portion of our prosperous State. When he settled there, 
Buena Vista included what is now East Saginaw, Buena Vista and 
Blunifield. 

He has held the offices of supervisor, town clerk, school inspector and 
highway commissioner. He was treasurer of the village of East Saginaw 
two terms, and, while in that office, paid every order when presented, 
often using his own personal funds to do it. Mr. Hess was also register 
of the United States land office for several years, and as such was faith- 
ful and vigilant, and contributed largely to turning the tide of emigration 
to this State and removing the false opinions prevalent about its health- 
fulness and natural resources. 

He was one of the few who, in 1858-5'.», liad implicit faith in tlie saline 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 267 

These supplies were carried to the fort in boats, at night, with- 
out exciting the suspicion of the Indians. No sooner had the 
garrison been relieved from apprehensions of immediate famine, 
than the Indians themselves began to suffer from hunger. Think- 
ing to have taken Detroit at a single stroke, they had neglected 
to provide against the exigencies of a siege, and now, in small 
parties, they plundered the Canadian families along the river 
shore. These acts called forth a remonstrance from the Canadian 
settlers, and a number of them visited the camp of the great 
Ottawa chief, and urged him to prevent their continuance. He 
yielded to their requests ; and, in order to effectually put a stop 
to his young men committing further depredations, Pontiac 
organized a commissary department. He visited, in person, all 
the Canadian families ; and, inspecting the property belonging to 
them, he assigned to each the share of provisions which it must 
furnish. The contributions thus levied were all collected at the 
house of M. Meloche, Pontiac's headquarters, and the prison of 
Captain Campbell and his companions. 

Pontiac, not wishing to offend the French, and being unable to 
make compensation for the provisions he had exacted, had 
recourse to a remarkable expedient. He issued promissory notes, 
drawn upon birch bark, signed with the figure of an otter, the 

resources of the Saginaw Valley, and his energy, influence and money 
contributed largely toward getting the legislation and capital to sink the 
first well of the East Saginaw Salt Manufacturing Company. The success 
of this adventure, which contributed more to the prosperity and marvel- 
ous growth of that region than any other one thing, is too well known to 
need comment here. 

Mr. Hess was a pioneer in the work of dredging out the Saginaw river, 
and was one of the first movers and a director of the East Saginaw Street 
Railway. 

He has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and for many years 
was a prominent politician in local and State affairs. For several years 
his ill health has kept him from all participation in public matters, but 
this has not prevented him from taking a deep interest in all public and 
private improvements. 

In both public and private life, by his energy, uprightness, faithfulness 
and candor he won and retained the esteem of all. 



268 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

" totem " to which he belonged, and it is authoritatively recorded 
that they were all faithfully redeemed. 

The measures the chief had adopted allayed the anger of the 
French, and contributed largely to his own welfare. None of his 
followers would cross the cultivated fields of the French, but 
always followed the beaten paths, as Pontiac had commanded 
them. 

But we will now turn to the work of the siege. " While perils 
were thickening around the garrison at Detroit," says Parkman, 
" the British commander-in-chief, at New York, remained igno- 
rant of its danger. Indeed, an unwonted quiet had prevailed, of 
late, along the borders, and about the neighboring forts. With 
the opening of spring, a strong detachment had been sent up the 
lakes, with a supply of provisions and ammunition, for the use of 
Detroit, and other western posts. The boats of this convoy were 
now pursuing their course along the northern shore of Lake Erie, 
and Gladwyn's garrison, aware of their approach, awaited their 
arrival with an anxiety which every day increased. Day after 
day passed on, and the red cross of St. George still floated above 
Detroit. The keen-eyed watchfulness of the Indians had never 
abated, and woe to the soldier who showed his head above the 
palisades, or exposed his person before a loop-hole. Strong in his 
delusive hope of French assistance, Pontiac had sent messengers 
to M. Neyon, commandant at the Illinois, earnestly requesting 
that a force of regular troops might be sent to his aid ; and Glad- 
wyn, on his side, had ordered one of the vessels to Niagara, to 
hasten forward the expected convoy. The schooner set sail ; but, 
on the next day, as she lay becalmed at the entrance of Lake 
Erie, a multitude of canoes suddenly darted out upon her from 
the neighboring shores. In the prow of the foremost the Indians 
had placed their prisoner. Captain Campbell, with the dastardly 
purpose of interposing him as a screen between themselves and 
the fire of the English. But the brave old man called out to the 
crew to do their duty, without regard to him. Happily, at that 
moment, a fresh breeze sprang up, and the schooner bore prosper- 
ously on her course towards Niagara, leaving the savage flotilla 
far behind. The fort, or, rather, town of Detroit, had by this 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



269 



time lost its wonted vivacity and life. Its narrow streets were 
gloomy and silent. Here and there strolled a Canadian, in red 
cap and gaudy sash ; the weary sentinel walked to and fro before 
the quarters of the commandant ; an officer, perhaps, passed 




cf.o*== 



HON. JAMES BIRNEY. 

James Bikney is a native of Danville, Kentucky, and the eldest son of 
the late James G. Birney. His collegiate education was obtained at 
Centre College, Kentucky, and at Miami University, Ohio. At the latter 
institution he graduated in 1836. During the two succeeding years he 
was employed in the University as professor of the Greek and Latin 
languages. 

During the next two years he attended the law lectures of Judge Stom 
and Professor Hitchcock, of the law school of Yale College, at New 
Haven, Connecticut. 



270 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

along, with rapid step and anxious face ; or an Indian girl, the 
mate of some soldier or trader, moved silently by, in her finery of 
beads and vermilion. Such an aspect as this the town must have 
presented on the morning of the thirtieth of May, when, at about 
nine o'clock, the voice of the sentinel sounded from the southeast 
bastion, and loud exclamations in the direction of the river, 
roused Detroit from its lethargy. Instantly, the place was astir. 
Soldiers, traders and inhabitants, hurrying through the water- 
gate, thronged the canoe wharf and the narrow strand without. 
The half-wild coureurs des hois, the tall and sinewy provincials, 
and the stately British soldiers, stood crowded together, their 
uniforms soiled and worn, and their faces haggard with unremit- 
ting watching. Yet, all alike wore an animated and joyous look. 
The long-expected convoy was full in sight. On the farther side 
of the river, at some distance below the fort, a line of boats was 
rounding the woody projection, then called Montreal Point, their 
oars flashing in the sun, and the red flag of England flying from 
the stern of the foremost. The toils and dangers of the garrison 
were drawing to an end. With one accord they broke into three 
hearty cheers, again and again repeated ; while a cannon, glanc- 
ing from the bastion, sent its loud voice of defiance to the enemy, 
and welcome to approaching friends. But, suddenly, every cheek 
grew pale with horror. Dark, naked figures were seen rising, with 

Subsequently Mr. Birney removed to Cinciunati, Ohio, and entered 
upon the practice of the law. He devoted himself to this business for 
eleven years, and acquired a desirable position in the profession. 

Mr. Birney, while in New Haven, married Miss IMoulton, step-daughter 
of Nathaniel Bacon, Esq., of that city. Of this marriage there were five 
children, the eldest of whom distinguished himself in the army as 
Captain in the 7th Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, and died while an 
officer of the U. S. regular army. 

In 1858, Mr Birney was elected a member of the State Senate for the 
Saginaw district; was chairman of the committee on public instruction, 
and a member of the judiciary committee of that body. 

In 1860, he was nominated by the State Republican Convention to the 
office of lieutenant-governor and elected by a majority of over 20,000. 
By virtue of this office] he became president of the State Senate, and as 
a pi'esiding officer received great favor. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 271 

wild gestures, in the boats, while, in place of the answering 
salute, the distant yell of the war-whoop fell faintly on their 
ears. The convoy was in the hands of the enemy. The boats 
had all been taken, and the troops of the detachment slain, or 
made captive. Officers and men stood gazing, in mournful 
silence, when an incident occured which caused them to forget 
the general calamity in the absorbing interest of the moment. 

Leaving the disapjDointed garrison, we will pass over to the prin- 
cipal victims of this deplorable misfortune. In each of the boats, 
of which there were eighteen, two or more of the captured sol- 
diers, deprived of their weapons, were compelled to act as rowers, 
guarded by several armed savages, while many other Indians, for 
the sake of further security, followed the boats along the shore. 
In the foremost, as it happened, there were four soldiers, and only 
three Indians. The larger of the two vessels still lay anchored 
in the stream, about a bow-shot from the fort, while her com- 
panion, as we have seen, had gone down to Niagara, to hasten up 
this very reinforcement. As the boat came opposite this vessel, 
the soldier who acted as steersman conceived a daring plan of 
escape. The principal Indian sat immediately in front of another 
of the soldiers. The steersman called, in English, to his comrade 
to seize the savage and throw him overboard. The man answered 

While he was lieutenant-governor, a vacancy occurred in the office of 
circuit judge for the district of which he was a resident. The governor 
tendered the appointment to him, and it was accepted. He presided as 
circuit judge during the next four years. He was unanimously renomin- 
ated by the Republican Judicial Convention, but the district having a 
Democratic majoritj' he has not elected. 

After serving as judge, Mr. Birney returned to the practice of the law. 

In 1871, he established the Bay City Chronicle as a weekly Republican 
paper. In June, 1873, he commenced the publication of the Morning 
Chronicle. 

In 1872, Governor Baldwin nominated Mr. Birney to President Grant 
as Centennial Commissioner for Michigan to celebrate the Hundredth 
Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. 

Mr. Birney is now residing at Bay Cily, and is devoting himself to the 
care of his estate and the editorial duties of the daily and weekly Chronicle. 
His son Arthur M. Birney is associated with him in business. 



272 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES 

that he was not strong enough ; on which the steersman directed 
him to change places with him, as if fatigued with rowing — a 
movement which would excite no suspicion on the part of their 
guard. As the bold soldier stepped forward, as if to take his 
companion's oar, he suddenly seized the Indian by the hair, 
and, griping with the other hand the girdle at his waist, lifted 
him by main force, and flung him into the river. The boat 
rocked till the water surged over her gunwale. The Indian 
held fast to his enemy's clothes, and, drawing himself upward, as 
he trailed alongside, stabbed him again and again with his knife, 
and then dragged him overboard. Both went down the swift 
current, rising and sinking ; and, as some relate, perished, grap- 
pled in each other's arms. The two remaining Indians leaped 
out of the boat. The prisoners turned, and pulled for the distant 
vessel, shouting aloud for aid. The Indians on shore opened a 
heavy fire upon them, and many canoes paddled swiftly in jiur- 
suit. The men strained with desperate strength. A fate inex- 
pressibly horrible was the alternative. The bullets hissed thickly 
around their heads ; one of them was soon wounded, and the 
light, birch canoes gained on them with fearful rapidity. Escape 
seemed hopeless, when the report of a cannon burst from the side 
of the vessel. The ball flew close past the boat, beating the 
water in a line of foam, and narrowly missing the foremost canoe. 
At this, the pursuers drew back in dismay ; and the Indians on 
shore, being further saluted by a second shot, ceased firing, and 
scattered among the bushes. The prisoners soon reached the ves- 
sel, where they were greeted as men snatched from the jaws of 
fate ; " a living monument," writes an officer of the garrison, 
" that fortune favors the brave." They related many particulars 
of the catastrophe which had befallen them and their companions. 
Lieutenant Cuyler had left Fort Niagara as early as the thir- 
teenth of May, and embarked from Fort Schlosser, just above the 
Falls, with ninety-six men, and a plentiful supply of provisions 
and ammunition. Day after day he had coasted the northern 
shore of Lake Erie, and seen neither friend nor foe amid those 
lonely forests and waters, until, on the twenty-eighth of the 
month, he landed at Point Pelee, not far from the mouth of the 



274 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

River Detroit. The boats were drawn on the beach, and the 
party prepared to encamp. A man and a boy went to gather fire- 
wood, at a short distance from the spot, when an Indian leaped 
out of the woods, seized the boy by the hair, and tomahawked 
him. The man ran into camp with the alarm. Cuyler immedi- 
ately formed his soldiers into a semi-circle before the boats. He 
had scarcely done so when the enemy opened^ their fire. For an 
instant, there was a hot blaze of musketry on both sides ; then the 
Indians broke out of the woods in a body, and rushed fiercely 
upon the center of the line, which gave way in every part, the 
men flinging down their guns, running in a blind jianic to the 
boats, and struggling, with ill-dii'ected eflbrts, to shove them into 
the water. Five were set afloat, and pushed ofi" from the shore, 
crowded with the terrified soldiers. Cuyler, seeing himself, as 
he says, deserted by his men, waded up to his neck in the lake, 
and climbed into one of the retreating boats. The Indians, on 
their part, pushing two more afloat, went in pursuit of the fugi- 
tives, three boat-loads of whom allowed themselves to be re-cap- 
tured, without resistance ; but the remaining two, in one of which 
was Cuyler himself, made their escape. They rowed all night, 
and landed in the morning upon a small island. Between thirty 
and forty men, some of whom were wounded, were crowded in 
these two boats ; the rest, about sixty in number, being killed or 
taken. Cuyler now made for Sandusky, which, on his arrival, he 
found burnt to the ground. Immediately leaving the spot, he 
rowed along the south shore to Presque Isle ; from whence he pro- 
ceeded to Niagara, and reported his loss to Major Wilkins, the 
commanding officer. The actors in this bold and well executed 
stroke were the Wyandots, who, for some days, had lain in 
ambush at the mouth of the river, to intercept trading boats, or 
parties of troops. Seeing the fright and confusion of Cuyler's 
men, they had forgotten their usual caution, and rushed upon 
them in the manner described. The ammunition, provisions, and 
other articles taken in this attack, formed a valuable prize ; but, 
unfortunately, there was, among the rest, a great quantity of 
whisky. This the Indians seized, and carried to their respective 
camps, which, throughout the night, presented a scene of savage 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 275 

revelry and riot. Dormant jealousies were awakened ; old, for- 
gotten quarrels kindled afresh ; and, had not the squaws taken 
the precaution of hiding all the weapons they could find, before 
the debauch began, much blood would, no doubt, have been spilt. 
As it was, many were wounded, of whom two died in the morning ; 
and several others had their noses bitten off — a singular mode of 
revenge, much in vogue upon similar occasions among the Indians 
of the upper lakes. The English were gainers by this scene of riot ; 
for, late in the evening, two Indians, in all the valor and vainglory 
of drunkenness, came running directly towards the fort, boasting 
their prowess in a loud voice ; but, being greeted with two rifle 
bullets, they leaped into the air, like a pair of wounded bucks, 
and fell dead on their tracks. It will not be proper to pass 
over in silence the fate of the unfortunate men taken prisoners in 
this afiair. After night had set in, several Canadians came to the 
fort, bringing vague and awful reports of the scenes that had 
been enacted at the Indian camp. A cloud of deep gloom sank 
down upon the garrison ; and none could help reflecting how 
thin and frail a bai-rier protected them from a similar fate. On 
the following day, and for several succeeding days, they beheld 
frightful confirmation of the rumors they had heard. Naked 
corpses, gashed with knives and scorched with fire, floated down 
on the pure waters of the Detroit, whose fish came up to nibble 
at the clotted blood that clung to their ghastly faces. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Conspiracy of Pontiac Contintied — Fate of thk Forest Garrison 
— The Massacre at Fort St. Joseph— The Fate of Sandusky, 
Miami, Ouatanon, Presque Isle, Le Boeuf, and Venango — The 
Reign op Blood and Havoc — Tile Bloody Work of the Great 
Pontiac and His Treacherous Followers. 

Such was the work of death and desolation ai'ound the forest 
garrisons, in 1763 — such the scenes enacted on the soij of Michi- 
gan one hundred years ago. But we must hasten to close our 
narrative of Pontiac and his woeful war, as other events of great 
importance must not be crowded out ; and in this we will be 
guided by the authority of Francis Parkman. Late one after- 
noon in May, 1763, the garrison were again greeted with the 
dismal cry of death, and a host of naked warriors was seen issu- 
ing from the woods in the rear of the fort. Each savage was 
painted black, and each bore a scalp, fluttering from the end of a 
pole. It was now plain that some new disaster delighted the 
blood-thirsty savages ; and, in truth, this was so ; for, during the 
same evening, news reached the fort that Sandusky had been 
taken, and all its garrison slain, or made prisoners. This post 
had been attacked by the Wyandots, living in its neighborhood, 
aided by a detachment from the army of Pontiac. Among the 
few survivors of the slaughter was the commanding officer. Ensign 
Paully, who had been conducted to Detroit by the savages, bound 
hand and foot, and assured on the passage that he would be 
burnt alive, beside the camp of the great chief. On being taken 
to the lodge of Pontiac, he was surrounded by a crowd of Indians, 
who pelted him with stones, and forced him to dance and sing. 
A worse infliction seemed in store for him, when, happily, an old 
woman, whose husband had lately died, chose to adopt him, in 
place of the deceased warrior. Seeing no alternative but the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



277 



stake, Paully accepted the proposal; and, having been first 
plunged in the river, to wash the white blood from his veins, he 
was conducted to the lodge of the widow, and treated thence- 
forth Avith all the consideration due an Ottawa warrior. The gar- 




M. S. SMITH. 

IMartin S. Smith, the senior partner of the firm of Messrs. M. S. Smith & 
•Co., tlie present leading jewelers of Detroit, was born in Lima, Livings- 
ton county, State of New York, in 1834. At an early age he came to 
Michigan in company with his parents. In 1859, Mr. Smith established 
himself in the jewelry business in Detroit, and has conducted since that 
time, or from a period not long after, the leading jewelry establishment 
in Michigan. 

In the summer of 1868, he visited Europe, and returned in the follow- 
ing autumn, an importer of jewelry and such other goods as are usually 



278 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

rison at Detroit soou received a letter from him, through a 
Canadian, giving a full account of the capture of Fort Sandusky, 
which had taken place on the sixteenth of the same month. 

A brief account of the surprise of this fort is as follows : 
Paully, the commandant, was informed that seven Indians were 
waiting at the gate to see him. As several of the number were 
well known to him, he ordered them to be admitted. Arriving 
at his headquarters, two of his treacherous visitors seated them- 
selves on each side of the commandant, while the rest were dis- 
posed in various parts of the room. The pipes were lighted, and 
the conversation began ; when an Indian, who stood in the door- 
way, suddenly made a signal, by raising his head. Upon this, 
the astonished officer was instantly pounced upon and disarmed ; 
while, at the same moment, a confused noise of shrieks and yells, 
the firing of guns, and the hurried tramp of feet, sounded from 
the area of the fort without. This soon ceased, and Paully, led by 
his captors from the room, saw the parade ground strewn with 
the corpses of his murdered garrison. During the night, he was 
conducted to the margin of the lake, where several birch canoes 
lay in readiness ; and, when the party had pushed out from the 
shore, Paully looked back through the darkness, to see the fort, 

associated with gold and silver wares. About this time, a new spirit of 
enterprise seized the people, and the commerce of Detroit was nearly 
doubled in every important branch. Consequent upon this intei'change 
with the outside world came all the wholesome characteristics of refined 
society. 

With this favorable combination of circumstances and events, it is not 
a difficult matter to account for Mr. Smith's great success in business. In 
1860, it may be observed, his sales touched only the modest figures of 
$17,000, but with a steady increase, year after year, reached the astound- 
ing sum of .$-300,000 in 1872. A natural accompaniment of this conmiercial 
prosperity was the exchange of a small store, occupied at the time of 
purchasing the establishment, for the magnificent house on the corner of 
Woodward and Jefferson avenues which he now occupies. This building 
is richly ornamented with a large stock of American and imported 
jewelry, bronzes, etc., comprising one of the most complete establish- 
ments of the kind in the Northwest. 

Mr. Smith's deportment in business transactions has been such as to 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 279 

lately under his command, bursting on all sides in sheets of flame. 
Such was the fate of Sandusky, in 1763. 

Detroit was next startled with the news of the massacre of the 
garrison at Fort St. Joseph. This was on the fifteenth of June, 
when the soldiers noticed a number of Indians approaching the 
gate of the fort, bringing with them four English prisoners ; who 
proved to be Ensign Schlosser, lately commanding at St. Joseph's, 
together with three private soldiers. The Indians wished to 
exchange them for several of their own tribe, Avho had been, for 
nearly two mouths, prisoners in the fort. After some delay, this 
was effected ; and the garrison then learned the unhappy fate of 
their friends. St. Joseph stood near the mouth of the river 
bearing the same name, near the head of Lake Michigan. The 
garrison of that post seemed to have apprehended no danger, 
when, on the twenty-fifth of May, early in the morning, the officer 
was informed that a large party of Pottawattamies, of Detroit, 
had come to pay a visit to their relations of that place. Pres- 
ently, a chief, named Washashe, with three or four followers, 
visited the commandant's quarters, as if to hold a council ; and 
soon after, a Canadian arrived, with the intelligence that the fort 
was surrounded by Indians, who evidently had hostile intentions. 

win the liigliest confidence of the whole public, and already the people 
are pointing to him with messages of public trust. He has been for some 
time a member of the Board of Police Commissioners and Vice-President 
of the Detroit Trust and Safe Deposit Company. He is also director in 
the Wayne County Savings Bank, director in the American National 
Bank, American Plate Glass Company, and in the Mutual Life Insurance 
Company. 

Mr. Smith went forth from a liumble home at the age of twelve years, 
unaccompanied by assistance. From tliese obscure beginnings, by that 
perseverance which secures good Avill as well as material prosperity, lie 
has done much to promote the commerce of Michigan, and secured fame 
as a merchant of Detroit. The character of his business has had a most 
salutary influence on society. When the first waves of civilization broke 
away the coldness of pioneer life, or the dignity of increasing wealth 
sent forth the demands for new luxuries, he was among the first to sup- 
ply these wants, or even by keeping in advance of them to create a taste 
for the more expensive characteristics of refinement. 



280 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

At this, Schlosser ran out of the apartment, and, crossing the 
parade, which was full of Indians and Canadians, hastily entered 
the barracks. These were also crowded with savages, very inso- 
lent and disorderly. While busying himself in getting his men 
under arms, he heard a wild cry from within the barracks. 
Instantly, all the Indians in the fort rushed to the gate, toma- 
hawked the sentinel, and opened a free passage to their comrades 
without. In less than two minutes, eleven men were killed, and 
himself, with the three survivors, made prisoners, and bound fast. 
They were then conducted to Detroit, as already shown. Three 
days after these tidings Avere received, the news of the massacre 
at Michilimackinac came to the fort. Of this terrible event we 
have already given a full account in a previous chapter. 

News of disaster was now the order of the day, and the wea- 
ried garrison seemed to read their own fate in every tale of 
woe. Next came the tidings of the fate of Ouatanon, a fort 
situated on the Wabash, a little below the site of the present 
town of Lafayette. Lieutenant Jenkins commanded at this fort ; 
and, on the first of June, he and his garrison were made prison- 
ers by the surrounding Indians, who spared their lives. 

Close upon these tidings came the news that Fort Miami was 
taken. This post stood on the Maumee River, and was com- 
manded by Ensign Holmes, who suspected the intention of the 
savages, and was, therefore, on his guard. On the twenty-seventh 
of May, a young Indian girl, who lived with him, told him that 
a squaw lay dangerously ill in a wigwam, near the fort, and 
urged him to come to her relief Having confidence in the girl. 
Holmes forgot his caution, and followed her out of the fort. 
When Holmes came in sight of the Indian wigwams, the Indian 
girl pointed out the lodge in which the sick woman lay. When 
he drew near the lodge, two guns flashed from behind the hut, 
and he fell lifeless on the grass. The shots were heard at the 
fort, and the Sergeant rashly went out to learn the cause of the 
firing. He was taken prisoner at once, amid a tumult of Indian 
war whoops. The soldiers in the fort were next summoned to 
surrender, with a promise that, if they did so, their lives would be 
spared, but that otherwise they would all be killed, without 
mercy. The terrified men gave themselves up as prisoners. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 281 

The news of the loss of Presque Isle reached Detroit on the 
twentieth of June. This fort stood on the southern shore of 
Lake Erie, at the site of the present town of Erie, and was com- 
manded by Ensign Christie. After a long and formidable resist- 
ance, he surrendered to the Indians. One Gray escaped, while 
the rest were conducted prisoners to Detroit. Christie soon 
after effected his escape, and succeeded in reaching the fort at 
Detroit in safety. After Presque Isle, Le Boeuf and Venango 
shared its fate ; while farther south, at the forks of the Ohio, a 
host of Indian warriors were gathering round Fort Pitt, and 
blood and havoc reigned along the whole frontier. 

We will now return to Detroit, and follow the half-famished 
garrison through their sufferings and their battles. We will also 
see what became of Captain Campbell and his comj)anions, who, 
when sent as deputies from Gladwyn, were detained by the great 
Pontiac, and lodged as prisoners in the house of M. Meloche, near 
Parent's Creek. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



CONSPIKACY OF PONTIAC CONTINUED — ThE SiEGE OP DETROIT — AdVEN- 

TUKE OP A British Schooner on the Detiwit River — Mode of 
Indian Warfare — Pontiac Inviting the French to Join his 
Army — Another Council — Exchange op Prisoners. 

On the nineteenth of June, a rumor reached Detroit that one 
of the vessels had been seen near Turkey Island, several miles 
below the fort. It will be remembered that this vessel had, sev- 
eral weeks before, gone down Lake Erie to hasten the advance of 
Cuyler's expected detachment. She passed these troops on her 
way, and sailed to Niagara, where she remained until the return 
of Cuyler, with the remnant of his men. After the latter had 
related his sad mishap, he was ordered to embark in the vessel 
that had come from Detroit, with as many soldiers as could be 
spared from the fort at Niagara, and return to Detroit. This 
order had been carried out, and now, as the rumor purported, the 
vessel was near the point of her destination, although the most 
dangerous part of the journey was yet to be traversed. The 
river channel was, in many places, narrow, and more than eight 
hundred Indians were on the alert to intercept their passage. 
Several days passed, and no tidings of the expected craft reached 
the garrison ; when, on the twenty-third, a great commotion was 
visible among the Indians, a large portion of whom were seen to 
pass along the outskirts of the woods, in the rear of the fort. 
The cause of this movement could not be conjectured till evening, 
when a Frenchman arrived at the fort, with the intelligence that 
the vessel was again attempting to ascend the river, and that all 
the Indians had gone to attack her. Upon this, two cannon Avere 
fired, that the crew might know that Detroit was still in the 
hands of the English ; and now all remained in great anxiety as 
to the result. The schooner soon began to move slowly up the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



2^3 



river, with a gentle breeze. About sixty men were crowded on 
board, of whom only ten or twelve were visible on deck. The 
officers had ordered the rest to lie hidden below, in hopes that the 
Indians, encouraged by their apparent weakness, might make 




HON. JAMES TURRILL. 

James Tukrili., of Lapeer, was born in Shoreham, Addisou county, 
Vermont, September 24, 1797. 

Leaving liis father's farm at tlie age of twenty-one, he engaged in 
general merchandising in his native town, and at Bridport, in the same 
county. Mr. Turrill pursued his mercantile labors in the two places 
above mentioned, with very gratifying and remunerative results, until 
1836, when he came to Michigan, and invested extensively in lands at 
and near the present flourishing city of Lapeer. Returning to Vermont, 
he continued his business until 1843, when he brought out his family, 
consisting of his wife and eight children— three sons and five daughters— 



284 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

an open attack. Just before reaching the narrowest part of the 
channel, the wind died away, and the anchor was dropped. 
Immediately above, and within gun-shot of the vessel, the Indians 
had thrown up a breastwork of logs, carefully concealed by 
bushes, on the shore of Turkey Island. Here they lay, in great 
force, waiting for the schooner to pass. Ignorant of this, but still 
cautious and wary, the crew kept a strict watch from the moment 
the sun went down. Hours wore on, and nothing had disturbed 
the deep repose of the night. At length, the sentinel could dis- 
cern, in the distance, various moving objects upon the dark sur- 
face of the water. The men were ordered up from below, and all 
took their posts in perfect silence. The blow of a hammer on the 
mast was to be the signal to fire. The Indians, gliding steadily 
over the water, had advanced to within a few rods of their sup- 
posed prize, when, suddenly, the dark side of the slumbering 

and located in the village of Lapeer. Here he again turned his attention 
to mercantile affairs, dealing largely in real estate at the same time. Suc- 
cess attended his efforts, and after a lapse of thirteen years he retired 
from active business, and has since given his attention to the cultivation 
of his farms and the management of his pine land interests. He is now, 
and has been for some time, one of the banking firm of R. G. Hart & Co. 
He was one of the directors of the Port Huron & Lake Michigan Rail- 
road, and aided largely with his means and advice, at a time when others 
were quite discouraged, in getting it completed from Port Huron to 
Flint. After that was done he retired from the directorship, at his own 
request, but remained quite active and efficient in the work. 

Although Mr. Turrill has never been ambitious for public life, still his 
fellow-citizens have seen fit on several occasions to place him in positions 
of honor and trust. He was several times elected one of the trustees, and 
afterwards president of the village of Lapeer, and upon its incorporation 
as a city, he was chosen its first mayor. Mr. Turrill was also elected to 
the House of Representatives of the State Legislature in the fall of 1848, 
and served in that body during the sessions of 1848-9. During the war 
he took an active part in putting down the rebellion, and his eldest son, 
Capt. J. Henry Turrill, a brave and noble-hearted ofiicer of the 7th Michi- 
gan Infantry, lost his life at the battle of Antietam. 

In manner Mr. Turrill is dignified, but not overbearing. He is a man 
of strict integrity, liberal in the support of religious and charitable insti- 
tutions, and gives with a free hand to the poor and needy. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



285 



vessel burst into a blaze of cannon and musketry. Grape and 
musket shot flew tearing among the canoes, destroying several of 
them, killing fourteen Indians, wounding as many more, and driv- 
ing the rest in consternation to the shore. Recovering from their 




EZRA RUST. 

Ezra Rust, of Saginaw City, was born September 23, 1832, at tlie 
town of Wells, Rutland county, Vermont. When he was five years of 
age, his parents removed to Newport, St. Clair county, Michigan. They 
were in limited circumstances and unable to provide him with an educa- 
tion beyond that afforded by the common schools of the place. His 
advantages, though limited, were thoroughly improved. He developed 
a strong taste for mechanics in his boyhood, and, before he was sixteen 
years of age, was employed as second engineer of the steamer Pacific; 
and such was his skill and ability that in his seventeenth year he was 



286 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

sui'prise, they began to fire upon the vessel from behind their 
breastwork, upon which she weighed anchor, and dropped down, 
once more, beyond their reach, into the broad river. Several 
days afterwards she attempted to ascend. This time she met with 
better success. As she passed the Wyandot village, she sent a 
shower of grape among its yelping inhabitants, by which several 
were killed ; and then, furling her sails, lay peaceably beside her 
companion, abreast of the fort. She brought to the garrison a 
much needed supply of men, ammunition and provisions. She 
bore, also, the important tidings that peace had been concluded 
between France and England. The great struggle of the French 
war, which had disturbed the peace of the whole continent of 
North America since the year 1755, although virtually ended on 
the Plains of Abraham, and by the junction of the three British 
armies at Montreal, was not completely settled till the formal 
treaty of peace. To most of the French this peace was odious. 
They went about among the settlers and Indians, declaring that 
the pretended news of peace was only "an invention of Major 
Gladwyn ; that the King of France would never abandon his 
children ; and that a great French army was even then ascending 
the St. Lawrence, while another was approaching from the country 
of the Illinois. These Indians believed these falsehoods, and 
thus the war continued. Poutiac himself clung to this delusive 
hope, and began the work of subduing the fort with renewed 

promoted to the position of first engineer of the same steamer. During 
the three following years he held the same situation on the steamer 
Aj'ctic. In 1854, he was transferred to the E. K. Collins, and was first 
engineer of that ill-fated steamer when she was burned near Maiden, in 
the same year. 

For the three years following, he was engaged in manufacturing lum- 
ber for his brothers, A. & D. AV. Rust, at their mill in Newport. In the 
summer of 1858, his liealth failing, he went to Cuba, where he remained 
nearly a year, employed as an engineer upon Aldama's sugar estate, 
" Santa Rosa." 

Upon his return, in 1859, he entered into partnership with Mr. James 
Hay, under the firm name of Rust & Hay, in the business of lumbering 
upon the tributaries of the Saginaw river, and since that time he has 
resided in Saginaw. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 287 

vigor. He sent a message to Gladwyn, urging him to surrender, 
and advising him of the expected arrival of eight hundred Ojib- 
was, who, he said, would take the scalp of every Englishman in 
the fort. To this advice Gladwyn returned a brief and con- 
temptuous answer, 

Pontiac now resolved to gain the assistance of the French 
inhabitants, and for this purpose he called them together in coun- 
cil. Near the camp of the Ottawas, the French inhabitants and 
Indians, headed by Pontiac, were convened. All was silent, and 
several pipes were passing round from hand to hand, when Pontiac 
rose and threw down a war-belt at the feet of the Canadians, and 
spoke as follows : 

" My brothers, how long will you suffer this bad flesh to remain 
on your lands ? I have told you before, and I now tell you again, 
that when I took up the hatchet, it was for your good. This year 
the English must all perish throughout Canada. The Master of 
Life commands it ; and you, who know him better than I, wish to 
oppose his will. Until now, I have said nothing on this matter. 
I have not urged you to take part with us in the war. It would 
have been enough had you been content to sit quiet on your mats, 
looking on while Ave were fighting for you. But you have not 
done so. You call yourselves our friends, and yet you assist the 
English with provisions and go about as spies among our villages. 
This must not continue. You must be either wholly French or 
wholly English. If you are French, take up that war-belt and 

In 1861, he, in company with others, sunk a salt well and constructed 
works for the manufacture of salt, which business he carried on success- 
fully for two years following. 

In the year of 1865, the firm of Rust, Eaton & Co. was formed, with 
Mr. Rust at its head, and he has, until the present time, continued to 
manage the extensive business of that firm, as well as that of Rust & Hay, 
with unvarying success. 

As a business man, Mr. Rust is distinguished for his quick and correct 
perception and prompt decision — his unswerving honesty and unerring 
judgment. He is possessed of fine social qualities and a sympathetic 
nature, which manifests itself in kindness to his employes to a remark- 
able degree. He is justly entitled to a prominent position among the 
successful and wealthy lumbermen of Michigan. 



288 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

lift the hatchet with us ; but if you are English, then we declare 
war upon you. My brothers, I know this is a liarcl thing. We 
are all alike children of our great father, the King of France, and 
it is hard to fight among brethren for the sake of dogs. But 
there is no choice. Look upon that belt and let us hear your 
answer." 

One of the Canadians replied, holding a copy of the capitula- 
tion of Montreal in his hand : 

" My brothers, you must first untie the knot with which our 
great father, the King, has bound us. In this paper, he tells all 
his Canadian children to sit quiet and obey the English until he 
comes, because he wishes to punish his enemies himself. We dare 
not disobey him, for then he would be angry with us. And you, 
my brethren, who speak of making war upon us if we do not do 
as you wish, do you think you could escape his wrath if you 
should raise the hatchet against his French children. He would 
treat you as enemies, and not as friends, and you would have to 
fight both English and French at once. Tell us, my brethren, 
what can you reply to this ? " 

For some moments Pontiac remained silent, when a rough 
Canadian trapper came forward and took up the belt, much to the 
disgust of the better class of the French present. He and his 
comrades joined the Indians, but this could not, in the least 
degi-ee, be construed as indicating that the French inhabitants of 
Detroit had joined their Indian friend in the war. 

On the following night, a party of these renegades, joined by 
about an equal number of Indians, approached the fort and 
intrenched themselves in order to fire upon the garrison. At day- 
break, they were observed, the gate was thrown open, and a file of 
men, headed by Lieutenant Hay, sallied forth to dislodge them. 
This was effected without much difficulty. This party had retired 
to the fort, when, at about four o'clock in the afternoon, a man 
was seen running towards it, closely pursued by Indians. On his 
arriving within gunshot, the Indians gave up the chase, and the 
fugitive arrived safely in the fort. He proved to be the com- 
mandant of Sandusky, who, having, as before mentioned, been 
adopted by the Indians, and married to an old squaw, now seized 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 



289 



the first opportunity of escaping from her embraces. Through this 
man, the garrison learned the sad news that Captain Campbell 
had been killed. It appeared that an Indian, killed in the morning 
and scalped by Lieutenant Hay's party, was a nephew of Wasson, 




DAVID PRESTON. 

David Preston, of Detroit, Michigan, was born in Harmony, Chau- 
tauqua county, New York, September 20, 1826. 

He received a common school education in the schools of this county, 
and emigrated to Michigan in 1848, arriving in Detroit on the 4th of 
November of that year. Upon his arrival in that city Mr. Preston was 
without money and friends, having borrowed twelve dollars to pay his 
fare. During the first year of his residence in Detroit he received a salary 
of $150, the second year it was increased to $200, and the third found him 
getting $250, while the fourth brought a further advance to $350. 

Mr. Preston commenced the banking business in Detroit in May, 1852, 
with a capital of but $450, and out of which he furnished his house, hav- 
19 



290 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES, 

chief of the Ojibwas. On hearing of his death, Wasson had 
immediately blackened his face in sign of revenge, called together 
a party of his followers, and, repairing to the house of Meloche, 
where Captain Campbell was kept prisoner, had seized upon him 
and tomahawked him on the spot, brutally mutilating his body. 
His heart is said to have been eaten by his murderers, to make 
them courageous. The corjjse was thrown into the river, and 
afterwards brought to shore and buried by the Canadians. The 
other captive, McDougal, had previously escaped. 

The two schooners anchored opposite the fort were now become 
objects of awe and aversion to the Indians. This is not to be 
wondered at, for, besides aiding in the defense of the place by 
sweeping two sides of it with their fire, they often caused great 
terror and annoyance to the besiegers. Several times they had 
left their anchorage, and taking up a convenient position, had 
battered the Indian camps and villages with no little effect. Once, 
in particular, and this was the first attempt of the kind, Gladwyn 
himself, with several of his oflScers, had embarked on board the 
smaller vessel, while a fresh breeze was blowing from the north- 
west. The Indians, on the banks, stood watching her as she 
tacked from shore to shore, and pressed their hands against their 
mouths in amazement, thinking that magic power alone could 
enable her thus to make her way against wind and current. 

ing been married but a short time previous. In May, 1854, through 
industry, honesty and strict attention to his business, Mr. Preston found 
that the small capital with which he had commenced banking two years 
previous had increased to the snug little sum of $5,000. With this 
amount he opened another banking house in Chicago, and, directly fol- 
lowing this adventure, came the failure of A. Klemm, of New York, 
who had $6,000 of Mr. Preston's money in his possession. Although by 
this misfortune he lost his entire capital, still he was not discouraged, 
and going to work with renewed vigor, he soon placed himself on a 
firmer foundation than ever. His banking houses both here and in 
Chicago are widely known, and have enjoyed the confidence of the 
moneyed men of the country for a long term of years. 

During the money panic of September, 1873, the banking house of D. 
Preston & Co., in Detroit, was obliged to suspend for a few days, not 
because they had sustained any loss, or of the defalcation of any'person 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 291 

Making a long reach from the opposite shore, she came on directly 
towards the camp of Pontiac, her sails swelling, her masts leaning 
over until the black muzzles of her guns almost touched the water. 
The Indians watched her in astonishment. On she came, until 
their fierce hearts exulted in the idea that she would run ashore 
within their clutches, when suddenly a shout of command was 
heard on board, her progress was arrested, she rose upright, and 
her sails flapped and fluttered as if tearing loose from their fasten- 
ings. Steadily she came round, broadside to the shore; then, 
leaning once more to the wind, bore away gallantly on the other 
tack. She did not go far. The wondering spectators, quite at a 
loss to understand her movements, soon heard the hoarse rattling 
of her cable as the anchor dragged it out, and saw her furling her 
vast white wings. As they looked unsuspectingly on, a puff of 
smoke was emitted from her side, a loud report followed, then 
another and another ; and the balls, rushing over their heads, flew 
through the midst of their camp and tore wildly among the forest 
trees beyond. All was terror and consternation. The startled 
warriors bounded away on all sides ; the squaws snatched up their 
children, and fled, screaming ; and, with a general chorus of yells, 
the whole encampment scattered in such haste that little damage 
was done, except knocking to pieces their frail cabins of bark. 

This attack was followed by others of a similar kind ; and now 
the Indians seemed resolved to turn all their energies to the 

connected with the firm, but entirely on account of tlieir not being able 
to convert their securities into currency fast enough to supply the 
demand of their depositors. This suspension was only temporary, and 
within a very short time the doors were thrown open again and business 
proceeded with as usual. The Chicago firm of Preston, Kean & Co., of 
which Mr. Preston has been a member for the past ten years, were able 
to pass through the above mentioned financial trouble without any 
serious difliculty. 

Mr. Preston is best known, however, to the people of Michigan for his 
unbounded generosity. No object of a charitable nature is ever pre- 
sented to him for his aid, without receiving substantial assistance. 
Within the last ten years he has given away over $65,000 to forward 
various charitable enterprises, and has thus engrafted himself into the 
affections of the people of the whole Northwest. 



292 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

destruction of the vessel which caused them such annoyance. On 
the night of the tenth of July, they sent down a blazing raft, 
formed of two boats, secured together with a rope, and filled with 
pitch, pine, birch-bark, and other combustibles, which, by good 
fortune, missed the vessel and floated down the stream without 
doing injury. All was quiet throughout the following night; but 
about two o'clock on the morning of the twelfth, the sentinel on 
duty saw a glowing spark of fire on the surface of the water, at 
some distance above. It grew larger and brighter ; it rose in a 
forked flame, and at length burst forth into a broad conflagration. 
In this instance, too, fortune favored the vessel ; for this raft, 
which was larger than the former, passed down between her and 
the fort, and burned until its last hissing embers wei'e quenched 
in the river. 

Though twice defeated, the Indians would not abandon their 
plan, but, soon after this second failure, began another raft of 
difiereut construction from the former and so large that they 
thought it certain to take effect. Gladwyu, on his part, provided 
boats which were moored by chains at some distance above the 
vessels, and made other j^reparations of defense so eflTectual that 
the Indians, after working four days ujion the raft, gave over their 
undertaking as useless. 

About this time, a party of Shawanoe and Delaware Indians 
arrived at Detroit, and were received by the Wyandots with a 
salute of musketry, which occasioned some alarm among the 
English, who knew nothing of its cause. They reported the pro- 
gress of the Avar in the south and east ; and, a few days after, an 
Abenaki, from Lower Canada, also made his appearance, bringing 
to the Indians the flattering falsehood that their great father, the 
King of France, was at that moment advancing up the St. Law- 
rence with his army. It may here be observed that the name of 
father, given to the kings of France and England, was a mere 
title of country or policy, for, in his haughty independence, the 
Indian yields submission to no man. 

It was now between two and three mouths since the siege began ; 
and, if one is disposed to think slightingly of the warriors whose 
numbers could avail so little against a handful of half-starved 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



293 



English and provincials, he has only to recollect that where bar- 
barism has been arrayed against civilization, disorder against 
discipline, and ungoverned fury against considerate valor, such 
has seldom failed to be the result. 




HON. BELA W. JENKS. 

Bbla W. Jenks, one of the citizens of St. Clair, ]Micliigan, was born 
at Crown Point, Essex county. New York, June (3, 1834. 

His father was a farmer, and being in moderate circumstances, was 
unable to give his son the advantages of an education. However, the 
young man was industrious and diligent in his studies, and, by his own 
unaided exertions, received a fair instruction in the schools of Charlotte, 
Chittenden county, Vermont. 

Mr. Jenks emigrated to Michigan in 1848, and settled in St. Clair, St. 
Clair county, where he has ever since resided. He at once engaged in 



294 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

At the siege of Detroit, the Indians displayed a high degree of 
comparative steadiness and perseverance ; and their history cannot 
furnish another instance of so large a force persisting so long in 
the attack of a fortified place. Their good conduct may be 
ascribed to their deep rage against the English, to their hope of 
speedy aid from the French, and to the controlling spirit of 
Pontiac, which held them to their work. The Indian is but ill 
qualified for such attempts, having too much caution for an assault 
by storm, and too little patience for a blockade. The Wyandots 
and Pottawattamies had shown, from the beginning, less zeal than 
the other nations ; and now, like children, they began to tire of 
the task they had undertaken. A deputation of the Wyandots 
came to the fort, and begged for peace, which was granted them ; 
but when the Pottawattamies came on the same errand, they 



mercantile pursuits, and soon built himself up a lucrative trade. Later, 
he branched out in the lumbering business and also commenced dealing 
quite extensively in real estate. He is still engaged in these two latter 
occupations, and is constantly adding to his already ample wealth, while 
at the same time he is doing much to advance the interests of his city 
. and State. 

For some years past, Mr. .Tenks has taken quite an active part in local 
and State politics, always acting with the Republican party. He has held 
a number of important official positions in the government of the city of 
St. Clair, performing his duties in a manner to elicit the praise of even 
his political opponents. 

In the fall of 1869, he was elected State senator from the twenty-fourth 
senatorial district, comprising St. Clair county, and was reelected to the 
same position in 1871. While occupying a position in the Senate, he won 
the confidence of that body and took a leading part in much of the 
legislation of the one extra and two regular sessions which were held 
during the time he was a member. He was chairman of the committee 
on rules and joint rules, and a member of the committees on division of 
towns and counties, on public lands and on drainage during the session 
of 1869-70; and in the session of 1871-73 he was chairman of the com- 
mittee on public lands, and a member of the committees on constitutional 
amendments and on the select committee on apportionment. 

As a man, Mr. Jenks is social and pleasant, and his manners and 
general bearing is sucli as to win him the high regard and esteem of his 
fellow-citizens. He is a man of unswerving honesty and indomitable 
energy, seldom failing to secure the object for which he labors. 



fllStORY OF MICHIGAN. 295 

insisted, as a preliminary, that some of their people who were 
detained prisoners by the English should first be given up, 
Gladwyn demanded, on his part, that the English captives known 
to be in their village should be brought to the fort, and three of 
them were accordingly produced. As these were but a small part 
of the whole, the deputies were sharply rebuked for their duplicity, 
and told to go back for the rest. They withdrew, angry and 
mortified ; but, on the following day, a fresh deputation of chiefs 
made their appearance, bringing with them six prisoners. Having 
repaired to the council room, they were met by Gladwyn, attended 
only by one or two ofiicers. The Indians detained in the fort 
were about to be given up, and a treaty concluded, when one of 
the prisoners declared that there were several others still remain- 
ing in the Pottawattamie village. Upon this, the conference was 
broken off, and the deputies ordered instantly to depart. On 
being thus a second time defeated, they were goaded to such a 
pitch of rage, that, as afterwards became known, they formed the 
desperate resolution of killing Gladwyn on the spot, and then 
making their escape in the best Avay they could ; but, happily, at 
that moment the commandant observed an Ottawa among them, 
and, resolving to seize him, called upon the guard without to 
assist in doing so. A file of soldiers entered, and the chiefs, seeing 
it impossible to execute their design, withdrew from the fort, with 
dark and sullen brows. A day or two afterwards, however, they 
returned with the rest of the prisoners, on which peace was granted 
them, and their people set at liberty. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Conspiracy of Pontiac Continued — The Battle of Bloody Run — 
Captain Dalzell's Detachment Slaughteeed by the Savages 
— Adventure of the Schooner Gladwyn — The Indians Sue for 
Peace — Approach of Winter. 

For some time after this peace with the Wyandots and 
Pottawattamies, nothing of importance occurred at Detroit, except 
that the garrison was continually harassed by the Ojibwas and 
Ottawas. But, in the meantime, Gladwyn's little band was being 
reinforced. Captain Dalzell had left Niagara with twenty-two 
barges, bearing two hundred and eighty men, with several small 
cannon and a fresh supply of provisions and ammunition. This 
detachment reached Detroit at the end of July, 1763, and landed 
amid the cheers of the garrison. The detachment was composed 
of soldiers from the 55th and 80th regiments, with twenty inde- 
pendent rangers, commanded by Major Rogers. The barracks in 
the place being too small to receive them, they were all quartered 
among the inhabitants. 

On the day of his arrival, Captain Dalzell had a conference 
with Gladwyn, and strongly insisted that the time was come 
when an irrecoverable blow might be dealt at Pontiac. Gladwyn, 
better acquainted with the position of the enemy, was averse to 
the attempt; but Dalzell, still urging his request, at last 
obtained the commandant's consent. 

Owing to the delay of marching out as at first contemplated, their 
plans became known to the great chief, and he prepared himself for 
the battle. However, early the following morning, the thirty-first 
of July, the gates were thrown open in silence, and the detachment, 
two hundred and fifty in number, marched out. They filed two 
deep along the river road, while two bateaux, each bearing a 
swivel, rowed up the river abreast of them. Lieutenant Brown 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 



297 



led the advance guard of twenty-five men, the centre was com- 
manded by Captain Gray, and the rear by Captain Grant. The 
morning was close and sultry. On their right lay the river and 
on their left a succession of Canadian houses, with barns, orchards 




E. O. HAVEN, D. D., LL. D. 

Erastus Otis Hayen was born in 1820, and it is his double good fortune 
to have been a Boston boy and a farmer boy. In intervals of work, he 
found time to gratify, varied and keen intellectual tastes ; and made 
thorough preparation for college. Entering at Middletown, in 1838, he 
not only mastered liberal studies but acquired their uses also. In 1843, 
he began— as instructor in the New York x\menia Seminary (of wliich he 
became principal in 1846) — a career in the comparatively brief course of 
which he has left hardly a branch of higher knowledge untaught or ill- 



298 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

and corn fields. The inhabitants, roused from sleep, looked from 
the windows in astonishment and alarm. Thus the English 
moved forward to the attack, little thinking that behind every 
available shelter Indian scouts watched every movement, and still 
less suspecting that Pontiac, aware of their plan, had broken up 
his camp and was marching against them with all his warriors, 
armed and painted for battle. 

" A mile and a half from the fort," says Parkmau, " Parent's 
Creek, ever since that night called Bloody Run, descended 
through a wild and rough hollow, and entered the Detroit amid a 
growth of rank grass and sedge. Only a few rods from its 
mouth, the road crossed it by a narrow, wooden bridge, not exist- 
ing at the present day. Just beyond this bridge, the land rose 
in abrupt ridges, parallel to the stream. Along their summits 
were rude intrenchments, made by Pontiac to protect his camp, 
which had formerly occupied the ground immediately beyond. 
Here, too, were many piles of fire-wood, belonging to the Cana- 
dians, besides strong picket fences, inclosing orchards and gar- 
dens connected with the neighboring houses. Behind fences, 
wood-piles and intrenchments crouched an unknown number of 
Indian warriors, with leveled guns. They lay silent as snakes, 

taught, scarcely a form of wholesome discipline or an element of generous 
culture unutilized. His services as a minister of the Gospel, as an 
ecclesiastical journalist, as a public lecturer on various topics, and as a 
legislator, have been no less distinguished. From 1848 to 185^, he was 
pastor, successively, over three churches of New York; from 1853 to 
1854, professor of Latin, and from 1854 to 1856, professor of rhetoric and 
English literature, in the University of Michigan; from 1856 to 1863, 
editor of Zion's Ilerald (Boston, Massachusetts), the organ of New Eng- 
land Methodism — performing at the same time the duties of member of 
the local school committee, member of the State board of education, and 
(1862, 1863) of State senator from the first Middlesex district, being chair- 
man of the joint committee of the legislature on education; from 1863 to 
1869, president of the University of Michigan; and, from 1869 to 1873, 
president of the Northwestern University. 

While in the Massachusetts legislature, Dr. Haven introduced and 
secured the enactment of laws — excusing Eoman Catholic children from 
reading the Bible in the public schools, and permitting it to be read by 



filSTORY OF MICHIGAN. 299 

for now thev could hear the distant tramp of the approaching 
column. The sky was overcast, and the morning exceedingly dark. 
As the English drew near the dangerous pass, they could discern 
the oft-mentioned house of Meloche, upon a rising ground to the 
left, while in front, the bridge was dimly visible, and the ridges 
beyond it seemed like a wall of undistinguished blackness. They 
pushed rapidly forward, not wholly unsuspicious of danger. The 
advance guard were half way over the bridge, and the main 
body just entering upon it, when a horrible burst of yells rose 
in front, and the Indian guns blazed forth in general discharge. 
Half the advanced party were shot down ; the appalled survivors 
shrank back aghast. The confusion reached even the main 
body, and the whole recoiled together; but Dalzell raised his 
clear voice above the din, advanced to the front, rallied the men, 
and led them forward to the attack. Again the Indians poured 
in their volley, and again the English hesitated ; but Dalzell 
shouted from the van, and, in the madness of mingled rage 
and fear, they charged at a run across the bridge, and up the 
heights beyond. Not an Indian was there to oppose them. In 
vain the furious soldiers sought their enemy behind fences and 
intrenchments. The active savages had fled ; yet still their guns 

the teacher; creating an agricultural college and endowing the Institute 
of Technology; enlarging the scope of Normal schools, and granting 
much needed State aid to the Museum of Natural Science, of which 
Agassiz is the head. 

The State of Michigan, during the three years of his first connection 
with its great University, he may be said to have canvassed. His services 
to the University during this time have scarcely been appreciated at their 
true value. The men gathered at Ann Arbor, in 1853, under the presi- 
dency of Henry P. Tappan, numbered not a few of the most accomplished 
proficients in the various branches of liberal learning, and masters in the 
art of teaching them, of their day. The University — its single academic 
course antiquated, its faculty discordant and disorganized, its students 
scattered, the public confidence gone, the mere tool of sects and the sport 
of politicians — was on the point of being utterly broken up. The legis- 
lature required that the University should have a scientific department, 
to which young men should be admitted without classical preparation. 
The constitution of this department was intrusted to a special committee 



300 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

flashed thick through the gloom, and their war-cry rose with 
undiminished clamor. The English pushed forward amid the 
pitchy darkness, quite ignorant of their way, and soon became 
involved in a maze of outhouses and inclosures. At every pause 
they made, the retiring enemy would gather to renew the attack, 
firing back hotly upon the front and flanks. To advance further 
would be useless, and the only alternative was to withdraw, and 
wait for daylight. Captain Grant, with his company, recrossed 
the bridge, and took up his station on the road. The rest fol- 
lowed, a small party remaining to hold the enemy in check while 
the dead and wounded were placed on board the two bateaux, 
which had rowed up to the bridge during the action. This task 
was commenced amid a sharp fire from both sides ; and, before it 
was completed, heavy volleys were heard from the rear, where 
Captain Grant was stationed. A great force of Indians had fired 
upon him from the house of Meloche and the neighboring 
orchards. Grant pushed up the hill, and drove them from the 
orchards at the point of the bayonet — drove them, also, from the 
house, and, entering it, found two Canadians within. These men 
told him that the Indians were bent on cutting off" the English 
from the fort, and that they had gone in great numbers to occupy 
the houses which commanded the road below. 

of the professors, of whicli Haven and Boise (who was then in tlie chair 
of Gi'eeli) were members. Its history is a record unsurpassed of unbroken 
progress — keeping equal pace with every advance of science, and 
instantly meeting the current demands of practical affairs. It was neck 
to neck with the classical course in a race in which each competitor 
enjoyed all that the other gained. 

In 1863, he was invited to the vacant presidency. The summons was 
by telegraph; likewise the resijonse. The motives which induced a step 
that seemed to many sudden and unadvised, do honor to Haven's head 
and heart. The true friends of the University were again in a panic of 
terror. Knowing that Dr. Tappan would not be reelected — in thorough 
sympathy with the idea of the institution; enjoying the manly respect of 
all parties to the recent conflict, and the affectionate esteem of nearly all; 
familiar with the people of the State and the genius of its institutions — 
he was inspired with a chivalrous desire to return and help to make the 
University a success. Suffice it to say that, having in hand the most 
difficult and delicate " case " of college management that ever arose, even 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 301 

It was now evident that instant retreat was necessary ; and, the 
command being issued to that effect, the men fell back into 
marching order, and slowly began their retrograde movement. 
Grant was now in the van, and Dalzell at the rear. Some of the 
Indians followed, keeping up a scattering and distant fire ; and, 
from time to time, the rear faced about, to throw back a volley of 
musketry at the pursuers. Having proceeded in this manner half 
a mile, they reached a point where, close upon the right, were 
many barns and outhouses, with strong picket fences. Behind 
these, and in a newly-dug cellar close at hand, lay concealed an 
immense multitude of Indians. They suffered the advanced party 
to pass unmolested ; but, when the center and rear came opposite 
their ambuscade, they raised a frightful yell, and poured a volley 
among them. The men had well nigh fallen into a panic. The 
river ran close on their left, and the only avenue of escape lay 
along the road in front. Breaking their ranks, they crowded 
upon one another, in blind eagerness to escape the storm of bul- 
lets ; and, but for the presence of Dalzell, the retreat would have 
been turned into a flight. 

" The enemy," writes an officer who was in the fight, " marked 
him for his extraordinary bravery ; and he had already received 

in our wayward and capricious community, he witliin a month achieved 
the promise of success; and at the end of two years tliere remained — 
neither in the University nor out of it — a trace of tlie bitter dissension 
that tlireatened to rend and ruin the institution. 

Under his presidency, tlie number of students was nearly doubled, 
though the standards for admission were materially raised; the internal 
economy was renovated and improved; the "Senate" of the faculties 
exercised its proper and useful functions; efficient discipline was secured, 
though "personal government" scarcely made itself felt. The Univer- 
sity, however, had but fairly begun its mature growth, though its income 
was at the maximum. President Haven determined that the State should 
grant pecuniary aid to the University. He spent several weeks with the 
legislature of 1866. An act was passed, granting aid on condition of the 
appointment to the medical department of a professor of homoeopathy. 
The condition reflected the opinion of a large minority of citizens. Dr. 
Haven simply urged the necessity of making the medical department 
(like that of the universities of Europe) strictly and broadly scientific. 



302 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

two severe wounds. Yet Bis exertions did not slacken for a 
moment. Some of the soldiers lie rebuked, some he threatened, 
and some he beat with the flat of his sword ; till, at length, 
order Avas restored, and the fire of the enemy returned with effect. 
Though it was near daybreak, the dawn was obscured by a thick 
fog, and little could be seen of the Indians, except the incessant 
flashes of their guns amid the mist, while hundreds of voices, 
mingled in one appalling yell, confused the faculties of the men, 
and drowned the shout of command. The enemy had taken 
possession of a house, from the windows of which they fired down 
upon the English. Major Rogers, with some of his provincial 
rangers, burst the door with an axe, rushed in, and expelled them. 
Captain Gray was ordei-ed to dislodge a large party from behind 
some neighboring /ences. He charged them with his company, 
but fell, mortally wounded, in the attempt. They gave way, how- 
ever ; and now, the fire of the Indians being much diminished, 
the retreat was resumed. 

No sooner had the men faced about, than the savages came 
darting through the mist upon their flank and rear, cutting down 
stragglers, and scalping the fallen. At a little distance lay a 
sergeant of the Fifty-fifth, helplessly wounded, raising himself on 

These views carried such weight with all who loved, not their favorite 
system less but the University more, that the next legislature, removing 
this onerous condition, provided for a slight increase of the State tax — 
$15,000 annually. The income from this and other sources was nearly 
doubled. Every department has reaped the "fruits — the medical, in a 
course of pharmacy and a hospital; the literary, by new material of study; 
the scientific school, by the addition of mining and mechanical engineer- 
ing; the law, by substantial enlargement of its facilities. 

Another engrossing question was appealed to the legislature— the admis- 
sion of women. Dr. Haven, while maintaining that in theory men and 
women should enjoy equal advantages, did not, as president of the 
University, advise the opening of its'doors to women, until the legislature, 
having twice decided to make no other provision, finally recommended 
their admission. He then advised that the University, instead of waiting 
to have the matter thrust upon it, should take up the new policy and 
guide and shape it. The question was thus decided. 

Dr. Haven finally accepted the call to the Northwestern University, and 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAK. 303 

his hands, and gazing, with a look of despair, after his retiring 
comrades. The sight caught the eye of Dalzell. That gallant 
soldier, in the true spirit of heroism, ran out, amid the firing, to 
rescue the wounded man, when a shot struck him, and he fell 
dead. Few observed his fate, and none durst turn back to recover 
his body. The detachment pressed on, greatly harassed by the 
pursuing Indians. Their loss would have been much more severe, 
had not Major Rogers taken possession of another house, which 
commanded the road, and covered the retreat of the party. 

He entered it with some of his own men, while many panic- 
stricken regulars broke in after him, in their eagerness to gain a 
temporary shelter. The house was a large and strong one, 
and the women of the neighborhood had crowded into the 
cellar for refuge. While some of the soldiers looked, in blind 
terror, for a place of concealment, others seized upon a keg 
of whisky in one of the rooms, and quafied the liquor with eager 
thirst ; while others, again, piled packs of furs, furniture, and all 
else within their reach, against the windows, to serve as a barri- 
cade. Panting and breathless, their faces moist with sweat, and 
blackened with gunpowder, they thrust their muskets through the 
openings, and fired out upon the whooping assailants. At inter- 
before he severed his connection with that institution it was placed on a 
firm foundation. In the short time he was at its head, it developed from 
a college to a university, and promises to be one of the largest denomina- 
tional institutions in the country. 

The general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, in 1872, 
established a board of education, to have supervision over the whole 
subject of education in the church, and unanimously elected Dr. Haven 
its corresponding secretary or superintendent, since which time his 
residence has been in New York City. 

The lesson of the life here sketched is suiiiciently apparent in the life 
itself. To bring principle the most exalted and character the purest to 
practical affairs, thereby to make the most of the common opportunities 
and the common things of to-day, by the exercise of powers which are 
men's common endowment — such is, as we conceive, the problem of the 
"higher life" in our crowded, intense and practical civilization. 

Of this perfection of the practical, Haven is so preeminently an 
example that it may be said that it is his genius ; but it is a genius rich 



304 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

vals, a bullet flew sharply Avhizzing through a crevice, striking 
down a man, perchance, or rapping harmlessly against the parti- 
tions. Jacques Campau, the master of the house, stood on a trap- 
door, to prevent the frightened soldiers from seeking shelter 
among the women in the cellar. A ball grazed his gi'ay head, 
and buried itself in the wall, where, a few years, since, it might 
still have been seen. The screams of the half-stifled Avomen 
below, the quavering war-whoops without, the shouts and curses 
of the soldiers, mingled in a scene of clamorous confusion ; and 
it was long before the authority of Rogers could restore order. 
In the meantime. Captain Grant, with his advanced party, had 
moved forward about half a mile, where he found some orchards 
and iuclosures, by means of which he could maintain himself 
until the center and rear should arrive. From this point he 
detached all the men he could spare to occupy the houses below ; 
and, as soldiers soon began to come in from the rear, he was 
enabled to reinforce these detachments, until a complete line of 
communication was established with the fort, and the retreat 
eflectually secured. Within an hour the whole party had arrived, 
with the exception of Rogers and his men, who were quite unable 
to come ofi", being besieged, in the house of Campau, by full two 
hundred Indians. 

in inspiration to multitudes who may never attain the liigli ideal. What- 
ever else he is, he is always practical. His discourses have been sometimes 
criticised by those who are so shallow as to confound the art of bringing 
thought to the svirface with superficiality. They rarely fail to gather up 
and utilize the profoundest thoughts, the remotest theorizings, the largest 
generalizations. But his style is a means, not an end; like the air, itself 
invisible, it reveals all things; its charm is that of purity, giving clear 
vision — never distortion oi" mirage. The still waters of his discourse run 
deep; his words always " set hearts beating pure," if rarely "fast." 

At Detroit, in 1869, he innocently raised a tempest in the ecclesiastical 
tea-pot by doing what he had often done in the East — preaching a 
Christian sermon in a Unitarian pulpit. It fails to appear, however, that 
on these occasions he deviated from the orthodox standard of doctrine in 
his church. It is, at the same time, the habit of his mind, as it is the 
instinct of his pure heart and generous nature, to recognize and acknow- 
ledge truth in doctrine and excellence in character wherever found. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



305 



The two armed bateaux had gone down to the fort, laden with 
the dead and wounded. They now returned, and, in obedience 
to an order from Grant, proceeded up the river to a point oppo- 
site Campau's house, where they opened a fire of swivels, which 




HON. JOHN F. DRIGGS. 

John F. Driggs was born at Kinderhook, Columbia county, New 
York, March 8, 1813. 

His parents were natives of the State of Connecticut, their ancestors 
having emigrated there at a very early period in the history of our 
country. His grandsires were both revolutionary soldiers. 

When Mr. Driggs was but a small boy, his father moved from Kinder- 
hook, and settled, for a few years, on the banks of the Hudson, near 
West Point. It was while residing here, that Mr. Driggs first heard the 
history of the war of independence from the lips of many of the old 
20 



306 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

swept the ground above and below it, and completely scattered the 
assailants. Rogers and his party now came out, and marched 
down the road, to unite themselves with Grant. The two bateaux 
accompanied them closely, and, by a constant fire, restrained the 
Indians from making an attack. Scarcely had Rogers left the 
house at one door, when the enemy entered it at the other, to 
obtain the scalps from two or three corpses left behind. Fore- 
most of them all, a withered old squaw rushed in, with a shrill 
scream, and, slashing open one of the dead bodies with her knife, 
scooped up the blood between her hands, and quaffed it with a 
ferocious ecstacy. 

Grant resumed his retreat, as soon as Rogers had arrived back, 
from house to house, joined in succession by the parties sent to 
garrison each. The Indians, in great numbers, stood whooping 
and yelling, at a vain distance, unable to make an attack — so well 
did Grant choose his positions, and so steadily and coolly conduct 
the retreat. About eight o'clock, after six hours of marching 
and combat, the detachment entered once more within the shel- 
tering palisades of Detroit. In this action, the English lost fifty- 
soldiers who lived in that patriotic region. From their stories, he imbibed 
those strong sentiments of hatred for slavery and oppression, and that 
love of liberty and justice which has so prominently influenced and con- 
trolled his after life. 

His father soon moved again, and took up his residence in the village 
of Tarrytown, also on the Hudson. He did not remain here long, how- 
ever, as he shortly afterwards located in New York City, where he lived 
the remainder of his life. 

In consequence of the frequent removals of his father, Mr. Driggs had 
but few opportunities of acquiring an education until he settled in New 
York City at the age of fourteen, and then such only as a natural strong 
mind, perseverance and an academy afibrded. Of these opportunities he 
made the most. 

Having been apprenticed to and learned the trade of sash, blind and 
door making, he followed that occupation — first as a journeyman, then 
for many years as a master mechanic. 

Shortly after his marriage, and without application, he received the 
appointment, from the common council of the city of New York, of 
superintendent of the penitentiary and public institutions on Blackwell's 
Island, and his wife received at the same time the appointment of matron 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 307 

nine men killed and wounded. The loss of the Indians could not 
be ascertained ; but it certainly did not exceed fifteen or twenty. 
At the beginning of the fight their numbers were probably much 
inferior to those of the English, but fresh parties were continu- 
ally joining them, until seven or eight hundred warriors must 
have been present. The Ojibwas and Ottawas alone formed the 
ambuscade at the bridge, under Pontiac's command ; for the 
Wyandots and Pottawattamies came later to the scene of action, 
crossing the river in their canoes, and passing round through the 
woods, behind the fort, to take part in the fray. 

In speaking of the fight of Bloody Bridge, an able writer in 
the "Annual Register" for the year 1763, observes, with justice, 
that, although in European warfare it would be deemed a mere 
skirmish, yet in a conflict with the American savages, it rises to 
the importance of a pitched battle; since these people, being 
thinly scattered over a great extent of country, are accustomed 
to conduct their warfare by detail, and never take the field in 
any great force. 

The Indians were greatly elated by their success, and reinforce- 

of the penitentiary. Tlie duties of these positions were performed to 
the entire satisfaction of the public and all parties. 

Though, in early life, Mr. Driggs had formed a preference for the 
Democratic principles of Thomas Jefferson, his strong opposition to 
slavery brought him in full sympathy and cooperation with such early 
advocates of emancipation as Leroy Sunderland, Orange Scott, Alvin 
Stewart, Lewis and Arthur Tappan, Friend Hopper and their co-laborers. 
His abolition sentiments prevented a sympathy between him and either 
of the dominant parties in 1836. Yet, in choosing between the two, he 
gave the preference to the Democrats, but these he virtually left when he 
cast his vote for Martin Van Buren for President on the Free Soil 
platform. 

Leaving the city of New York in 1856, he, with his family, settled at 
East Saginaw, Michigan, where he entered into the mercantile and 
lumber business. The second year after his locating there, he was elected 
president of the village and held that position when East Saginaw 
was incorporated as a city. In 1859, he was elected to the State Legisla- 
ture for two years, and, in 1861, was appointed register of United States 
land office for the Saginaw district. While holding this position, he was 
elected to Congress from the then Sixth Congressional District, compris- 



308 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ments soon began to come in to swell the force of Pontiac. 
" Fresh warriors," writes Gladwyn, " arrive almost every day, and 
I believe that I shall soon be besieged by upwards of a thousand." 
The English, on their part, were well prepared for resistance, 
since the garrison now comprised more than three hundred effec- 
tive men ; and no one entertained a doubt of their ultimate suc- 
cess in defending the place. Day after day passed on ; a few 
skirmishes took place, and a few men were killed ; but nothing 
worthy of notice occurred until the night of the fourth of Sep- 
tember, at which time was achieved one of the most memorable 
feats of which the chronicles of that day can boast. 

The schooner Gladwyn, the smaller of the two armed vessels 
so often mentioned, had been sent down to Niagara with letters 
and dispatches. She was now returning, having on board Horst, 
her master, Jacobs, her mate, and a crew of ten men, all of whom 
were provincials, besides six Iroquois Indians, supposed to be 
friendly to the English. On the night of the third she entered 
the River Detroit, and, in the morning, the six Indians asked to 
be set on shore, a request which was foolishly granted. They dis- 

ing the Upper Peninsula of thirty counties, being nearl^v one-half of the 
territory in the entire State. He was reelected twice by largely increased 
majorities, but, refusing to leave his post at Washington to secure a 
fourth nomination, he was, after a protracted session, defeated in the 
convention by one. Two years subsequent to this, he was again nomin- 
ated by the Republican party and defeated, after an extraordinary contest, 
by Judge Sutherland, the Democratic nominee. The extraordinary 
means resorted to, to accomplish Mr. Driggs' defeat in the district where 
it is universally admitted that he made an enviable record as a faithful, 
patriotic and energetic representative, are well known to the people of 
his State, and cannot be further alluded to in this sketch. Suffice it to 
say, that during his congressional career, he established a record for 
fidelity, industry and patriotism, of which he may well be proud. 

Near the close of the war, under the last call, he raised a full regiment 
in sixty days, while the other six regiments called for had to be consoli- 
dated to fill their ranks, before leaving for the front. 

Mr. Driggs still resides at East Saginaw, where he is much respected 
and largely engaged in the manufacture of salt and in real estate trans- 
actions. He may well be included among the most worthy and prominent 
citizens of Michigan. 



filSfORY OF MICHIGAN. 309 

appeared in the woods, and probably reported to Pontiac's war- 
riors the small number of the crew. The vessel stood up the 
river until nightfall, when, the wind falling, she was compelled to 
anchor about nine miles below the fort. The men on board 




REV. J. M. ARNOLD. 

John M. Arnold, one of the most widely known ministers of the 
Methodist Episcopal church in this State, was born in Durham, Greene 
county, New York, on the 15th of October, 1834. He began life as a 
farmer, and early attained a fair education. During his boyhood, he 
acquired an insatiable desire for knowledge, and soon became a constant 
reader, which laid the foundation of that general information and literary 
discrimination which has since characterized him and been the occasion 
of directing him to the peculiar sphere of activity that he now occupies. 

Mr. Arnold came to Detroit in 1861, as pastor of the First Methodist 
Episcopal church, and at the close of his term with that church he com- 



310 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

watched witli anxious vigilance. The night set in with darkness 
so complete, that, at the distance of a few rods, nothing could be 
discerned. Meantime, three hundred and fifty Indians, in their 
birch canoes, glided silently down the current, and were close 
upon the vessel before they were seen. There was only time to 
fire a single cannon shot among them before they were beneath 
her bows, and clambering up her sides, holding their knives 
clenched fast between their teeth. The crew gave them a close 
fire of musketry, without any efiect ; then, flinging down their 
guns, they seized the spears and hatchets, with which they were all 
provided, and met the assailants with such furious energy and 
courage, that, in the space of two or three minutes, they had 
killed and wounded more than twice their own number. But 
the Indians were only checked for a moment. The master of the 
vessel was killed, several of the crew were disabled, and the 
assailants were leaping over the bulwarks, when Jacobs, the mate, 
called out to blow up the schooner. 

This desperate command saved her and her crew. Some Wyan- 
dots, who had gained the deck, caught the meaning of his words, 
and gave the alarm to their companions. Instantly, every Indian 
leaped overboard in a panic, and the whole were seen diving and 

menced the organization of the Detroit Book Depository, under the 
auspices of his denomination, which has since grown into a large and 
flourishing business institution, and is now conducted under tlie name of 
J. M. Arnold & Co. Mr. Arnold is widely known as an enthusiastic and 
l^enetrating book dealer, buying and selling, under protest only, any pub- 
lication that does not tend to improve the head or heart, and has built up 
his present business without pandering in the least to that class of 
literature which tends to demoralize the younger portion of our popu- 
lation. 

Aside from attending to his business, Mr. Arnold continues to fill some 
one of the various pulpits of his own and other denominations, through- 
out the State, during the majority of the Sabbaths in the year, in a highly 
acceptable manner. For a number of years, he has held from his 
conference the appointment of Sabbath school agent. In performing the 
duties of this position, he travels extensively, lecturing and preaching in 
all portions of the State, and is a man of wide personal influence in his 
own and other denominations. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 811 

swimming off in all directions, to escape the threatened explosion. 
The schooner was cleared of her assailants, who did not dare to 
renew the attack ; and, on the following morning, she sailed for 
the fort, which she reached without molestation. Six of her crew 
escaped unhurt. Of the remainder, two were killed, and four 
seriously wounded ; while the Indians had seven men killed upon 
the spot, and nearly twenty -wounded, of whom eight were known 
to have died within a few days after. As the action was very 
brief, the fierceness of the struggle is sufficiently apparent from 
the loss on both sides. 

The appearance of the men, says an eye-witness who saw them 
on their arrival, was enough to convince every one of their brav- 
ery, they being as bloody as butchers, and their bayonets, spears 
and cutlasses bloody to the hilt. The survivors of the crew were 
afterwards rewarded as their courage deserved. The schooner, so 
boldly defended by her crew against a force of more than twenty 
times their number, brought to the fort a much needed supply of 
provisions. It was not, however, adequate to the wants of the 
garrison, and the whole were put upon the shortest possible allow- 
ance. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Conclusion of Pontiac's War — Tiie Siege op Detroit Raised — 
Bradstreet in the West — The English at Peace — The Revolu- 
tionary War— Instigating Savages to Take American Scalps — 
Captain Byrd's Expedition— Hamh-ton's Expedition— His Cap- 
ture — De Peyster Commands at Detroit — American Liberty 
Triumphant — Peace Restored. 

It was now the end of September. The Indians had pressed 
the siege with a determination unknown to their race, since the 
beginning of May ; but at length their constancy began to wane. 
The tidings that Major Wilkins was approaching with a strong 
detachment reached their camp, and they began to fear the con- 
sequences of an attack, especially as their ammunition was nearly 
expended. By this time, most of the tribes around Detroit were 
disposed to sue for peace. They wished to retire unmolested to 
their wintering grounds, and renew the war in the spring. Accord- 
ingly, on the twelfth of October, Wapocomoguth, great chief of 
the Mississaugas, visited the fort with a pipe of peace. He made 
a speech to Major Gladwyn, asking for peace, to which the com- 
mandant replied, telling him that he could not himself grant 
peace, but would consent to a truce. This was accepted, and 
Gladwyn availed himself of the opportunity to collect provisions 
from the Canadians, and succeeded so well that the fort was soon 
furnished for the winter. After overtures of peace, Pontiac with- 
drew, with his chiefs, to the Maumee, to stir up the Indians in 
that quarter, with a view of resuming the war in the spring. 

About the middle of November, after quiet had been restored 
around the fort at Detroit, two friendly Indians visited the fort, 
and one of them took a closely folded letter from his powder- 
horn and handed it to Gladwyn. The note was from Major Wil- 
kins, and contained the disastrous news that the detachment 



fllSTORY OP MICSlGAi^r. 



313 



under his command had been overtaken by a storm ; that many 
of the boats had been wrecked ; that seventy men had perished ; 
that all its stores and ammunition had been destroyed, and the 
detachment forced to return to Niagara. This intelligence had 




HON. R. P. ELDRIDGE. 

Robert P. Eldridge, a prominent lawyer of the Sixteenth Judicial 
Circuit, was born on the banks of the Hudson, in the township of Green- 
wich, Washington county, New York, in 1808. 

The winter after he was six years of age, his father moved to Lebanon, 
Madison county, and from there to the township of Hamilton, on the east 
side of the west branch of the Chenango river, in the same county. The 
spring after he reached his fourteenth year, he was sent to the academy 
at the village of Hamilton to prepare for a collegiate education, but his 



314 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

an effect upon the garrison which rendered the prospect of 
the cold and cheerless winter yet more dreary and forlorn. But 
the winter came, and was endured by these hardy soldiers ; and, 
with the return of spring their savage enemies began to appear. 
They endured their assaults until the twenty-sixth of August, 
when Bradstreet's fleet came sailing up the river, to the relief of 
the disconsolate garrison. They were welcomed by the cannon of 
the garrison, and cheer after cheer pealed forth from the crowded 
ramparts. Well might Gladwyn and his soldiers rejoice at the 
approaching succor. They had been beset for more than fifteen 
months by their savage enemies; and, though there were times 
when not an Indian could be seen, yet woe to the soldier who 
should wander into the forest in search of game, or stroll too far 
beyond range of the cannon. 

The army had no sooner landed than the garrison was relieved 
and fresh troops substituted in their place. Bradstreet next 
inquired into the conduct of the Canadians of Detroit, and pun- 
ished such of them as had given aid to the Indians. A few only 
were found guilty, the more culpable having fled to the Illinois, 
on the approach of the army. Pontiac, too, was gone. The great 
war chief — his vengeance unslaked, and his purpose unshaken — 

mother dying when he was sixteen, his father's family was broken up; 
the children, of which there were eight, were separated and never again 
were they all assembled under the one roof. From this time, he was 
compelled to teach school winters in order to study summers, and from 
necessity was obliged to abandon the idea of "going through college." 

In his seventeenth year, at the earnest request of his father, he entered 
the law office of Stowe & Girdly, one of the most eminent law firms of 
Madison county, I^ew York. AVhile in this law office, lie was required 
to labor very hard at the table, copying; yet he received much valuable 
information from Judge Girdly, in the science of the profession he was 
destined to pursue. 

At the close of his school in the spring of 1826, after paying liis little 
necessary indebtedness, he found himself the owner of twenty dollars, 
and with this amount he started for the territory' of Michigan, being 
utterly unacquainted with the world, and with no practical experience in 
any business, except school teaching. 

Mr. Eldridge landed in Detroit on the 26th day of May, 1826, poorly 



flISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 8l6 

had retired to the banks of the Mauraee, whence he sent a 
haughty defiance to the English commander. The Indian vil- 
lages near Detroit were half emptied of their inhabitants, many 
of whom still followed the desperate fortunes of their indomitable 
leader. Those who remained were, for the most part, brought by 
famine and misery to a sincere desire for peace, and readily obeyed 
the summons of Bradstreet to meet him in council. 

The council was held in the open air, on the morning of the 
seventh of September, with all the accompaniments of military 
display which could inspire awe and respect among the assembled 
savages. The tribes, or, rather, fragments of tribes, represented 
at this meeting, were the Ottawas, Ojibwas, Pottawattamies, 
Miamis, Sacs, and Wyandots. The Indians of Sandusky kept 
imperfectly the promise they had made, the Wyandots of. that 
place alone sending a full deputation ; while the other tribes were 
merely represented by the Ojibwa chief, Wasson, This man, who 
was the principal chief of his tribe, and the most prominent 
orator on the present occasion, rose and opened the council. He 
frankly confessed that the tribes which he represented were all 
justly chargeable with the war, and now deej)ly regretted it. 
Bradstreet would grant peace only on condition that they should 

clad, and with ten shillings as the sum total of his capital. After a short 
time, some gentlemen in Detroit with the under-sheriff of Wayne county, 
fitted up the " debtors room," in the jail, for a school room, and he went 
to teaching their boys at $8.00 per quarter. At the end of six weeks, 
pleasantly occupied in conducting his school, he was stricken down by a 
severe attack of bilious fever, which, had it not been for the kind care of 
a Mr. Seymour, with whom he boarded, and a naturally strong constitu- 
tion, would have proved fatal. Recovering, he collected what was due 
him, paid his debts, and with the remainder, one dollar and a half, paid 
his stage fare to Pontiac, Michigan, where he had engaged to teach 
school during the winter of 1826-27. While teaching this school, he 
devoted his evenings and Saturdays to recording deeds in the register of 
deeds office for Oakland county. Aside from this, he found some time 
to pursue his legal studies in the office of Governor Richardson. During 
this winter, he was severely afflicted with inflammation of the eyes, the 
healing of which cost him more than what he [liad earned teaching 
Bchool. 



316 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

become subjects of the King of England, and acknowledge that 
he held over their country a sovereignty as ample and complete 
as over any other part of his dominions. Nothing could be more 
impolitic than this demand ; but, happily, not a savage present 
was able to comprehend it. The terms, therefore, met with a 
ready assent. They promised in the future to call the English 
King father, instead of brother. 

A deputation was sent to Pontiac, who had retired to the Mau- 
mee, and that chief agreed to lead the nations to war no more ; 
but declared that he would never become a friend to the English ; 
although, two years afterwards, he was declaring himself the fast 
friend of that nation, in a speech to Sir William Johnson. In 
1769, this great chief and warrior met his death, in Illinois, at 
the hands of an Indian of the Kaskaskia tribe, who was induced 
to commit the crime for a barrel of whisky, by an Englishman, 
named Williamson. 

Bradstreet left Detroit, to compel Indian submission elsewhere ; 
and left the little garrison enjoying the luxury of peace. Now 
that the insurrection was quelled, the British adopted a system of 
conciliatory measures, to secure the good-will of the disaffected 
tribes ; small grants of land were made around the posts, and the 

In the following summer, lie found it necessary to seek a new location, 
and, borrowing a friend's horse, he rode down to Mt. Clemens, in Macomb 
county, and, after an examination, decided to locate there. Accordingly, 
on the 3d of July, 1827, he started out on foot from Pontiac, and after a 
fatiguing march reached Mt. Clemens the next day. Here he went into the 
employ of a merchant by the name of Ashley, working for his board. 
In the fall following, his father sent him a few law books, mostly 
elementary. Being obliged to leave Mr. Ashley's house on account of 
sickness in that family, he commenced keeping bachelor's hall, and 
reading his law books preparatory to being admitted by the supreme 
court of the territory as soon as he attained his majority. In the fall of 
1828, he applied for admission. His examination was in open court, and 
after being thoroughly quizzed by six of the ablest lawyers in Detroit, 
before .Judges Sibley and Chipman, he was admitted as an attorney at law 
and solicitor in chancery. The court at that time was held in the old 
State capital, and he was stopping at "Uncle Ben's Steamboat Hotel," 
but in going from the former to the latter, after passing his examination. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 317 

Indians themselves were induced to cede portions of their terri- 
tory for a trifling consideration. The French settlements extended 
in a short time along the banks of the Detroit and St. Clair riv- 
ers to a distance of about twenty miles above and below Detroit. 
The latter continued to be the most prominent post, and in 1766 
the town contained more than a hundred houses, independent of 
the barracks. To the west of the latter lay the commons, which 
was also called the King's Garden. The post was surrounded by 
pickets, mounted with small cannon, and was garrisoned by two 
hundred soldiers. 

Meanwhile, the Hudson's Bay Company extended its operations 
through the wilderness which had, for a century previous been the 
ranging ground of the French traders. This company had been 
chartered, in 1669, by Charles II. That charter, granted to a 
company of English merchants, authorized them to occupy a very 
extensive region, for the prosecution of the fur trade ; to estab- 
lish military posts for their defense, and to traffic with the native 
tribes. In 1766, individual adventurers began to extend their 
operations along the lake shores, in the same track that had for- 
merly been pursued by the French, and soon came in collision 
with the large companies, which were striving to occupy the whole 
territory for their exclusive benefit. 

he has no recollection of passing any houses or pedestrians on the way. 
Returning to Mt. Clemens, he "put out his shingle." Mr. Eldridge was 
then the only lawyer in that county, and the good people in it were sober 
and industrious, and derived more pleasure and profit in cultivating their 
farms than in contentions and law suits, which made the prospects for a 
young lawyer, without means, relatives or influential friends to aid him, 
look very gloomy indeed. He would undoubtedly have sought a new 
location, only that poverty held him there with a firm grip. The county 
improved rapidly, however, settlers increased and grew wealthy, another 
lawyer located in the county, and then many suddenly discovered that 
they had received injuries at the hands of their neighbors, which their 
duty to themselves and society required them to have righted. From this 
time, Mr. Eldridge found it easy to support himself and family and to 
put away a few dollars for future contingencies. 

He soon took an active part in politics, and, having been educated a 
Democrat, he was a warm supporter of Jackson and Van Buren, and the 
Democratic nominees for State and county offices. In February, 1842, 



318 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

The English made but little change, either in the laws or in 
their administration, and pursued the same general policy as their 
predecessors, the French. The commandants of the posts, 
although responsible to the Governor-General at Quebec, were 
still possessed of a discretionary power which was all but abso- 
lute, and which they exercised in a highly arbitrary manner. In 
1774, while Governor Hamilton was commanding at Detroit, an 
act was passed, called the Quebec Act, establishing the bounda- 
ries of Canada, including Michigan, and extending thence to the 
Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, on the south, and north, from the St, 
Lawrence to the latitude of 52°, or, to the lands of the Hudson's 
Bay Company. This act granted to the Catholic inhabitants the 
free exercise of their religion, the undisturbed possession of their 
church property, and the right, in all matters of litigation, to 
demand a trial according to the former laws of the province. 
But this right was not extended to the settlers on lands granted 
by the English Crown. The criminal laws of England were 
introduced into Canada, and the Crown reserved to itself the right 
of establishing courts of civil, criminal and ecclesiastical juris- 
diction. 

The enterprise of the people was not wholly confined to the fur 
trade. As early as 1773, the mineral regions of Lake Superior 

Mr. Eldridge was appointed to the prominent position of secretary of State 
by Governor Barry, which oflBce he held by reappointment during the 
four years of Governor Barry's administration. In the fall of 1846, he 
was elected a member of the State senate, and, in the winter of 1847, 
attended as a senator the first session of the legislature held at Lansing. 
With the close of that session, he ended his public labors, and severed 
his connection with politics so far as holding or seeking to hold any 
office was concerned. 

Upon the expiration of his term of office as secretary of State, he 
resumed the practice of his profession at Mt. Clemens, and now, at the 
age of sixty-five, he is actively engaged in the pursuit of it. He is as 
attached to it now as when compelled to depend upon its receipts to sup- 
port his family and educate his children. He looks upon the law as a 
noble science; he esteems and reverences it; he loves its practice, and he 
is now and ever has been an honor to the profession, occupying a position 
among the eminent lawyers of the State. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 319 

were visited ; and a project was formed for working the copper 
ore discovered there, and a company in England had obtained a 
charter for that purpose. A sloop was purchased and the miners 
commenced operations, but soon found, however, that the expenses 
of blasting and of transportation were too great to warrant the 
prosecution of the enterprise, and it was abandoned. In 1783, 
several influential merchants, who had been individually engaged 
in the fur trade, entered into partnership for its more successful 
prosecution, and established what was styled the Northwest Fur 
Company. In 1787, the shareholders appointed from their num- 
ber special agents, to import from England such goods as might 
be required, and to store them at Montreal. This plan of con- 
ducting the trade was not dissimilar to that which had been pur- 
sued by the French. Storehouses were erected at convenient 
places on the borders of the lakes ; and the posts formerly occu- 
pied by the French were used for the same purpose. Agents were 
sent to Detroit, Mackinaw, the Sault Ste. Marie, and the Grand 
Portage, near Lake Superior, who packed the furs and sent them 
to Montreal, for shipment to England. The most important 
point of the fur trade was the Grand Portage of Lake Superior. 
Here the proprietors of the establishment, the guides, clerks and 
interpreters, messed together in a large hall, while the canoe men 
were allowed only a dish of " hominy," consisting of Indian corn 
boiled in a strong alkali, and seasoned with fat. Thus, this inter- 
esting trade, which had been carried on for more than a century, 
still continued to circulate in its ordinary channels, along the 
waters of the lakes. 

But the spirit of mercantile rivalry was carried to a great 
extent, and unhappily, excited the worst passions of those inter- 
ested in the several companies. The employes of the Hudson's 
Bay and Northwest Companies, the boundaries of which were not 
very clearly defined, often came into active and desperate con- 
flict, and made repeated attacks upon the trading posts of each 
other. Lord Selkirk, however, having placed himself at the head 
of the Hudson's Bay Company, succeeded at length in uniting 
the stock of the two companies, and this put an end to the strife. 
These two companies held dominion over the territory bordering 



320 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

on the lakes, and studied only to keep it a barren wilderness, that 
their trade might be jireserved and prolonged. 

The American revolution was already bursting forth ; but, 
during this eventful struggle, the territory of the present State 
of Michigan, from its remote situation, was but little affected by 
the war, though the Indians within its borders were employed to 
harass the American settlements upon the frontiers of New York, 
Pennsylvania and Virginia. Detroit and Michilimackinac were, 
during this period, the points of greatest interest. At these posts 
the Indian warriors were assembled, and furnished with arms 
and ammunition, and from thence they were dispatched against 
the nearest American settlements, to burn and destroy, and to 
massacre and scalp the defenseless inhabitants. On their 
return from such murderous expeditions, these savage allies were 
met by the British commanders in the council houses of Michili- 
mackinac and Detroit, and there paid a stipulated price for the 
scalps which they brought. In some instances, the Indians were 
supported in these expeditions by the regular troops and local 
militia. 

One of these joint expeditions, commanded by Captain Byrd, 
set out from Detroit to attack Louisville. It proceeded in boats 
as far as it could ascend the Maumee, and from thence crossed 
over to the Ohio, and marched to Ruddle's Station. This post 
surrendered at once, without fighting, under the promise of being 
protected from the Indians. This promise, however, was violated, 
and the prisoners were all massacred. A small stockade, called 
Martin's Station, was also taken by the same commander, and his 
march through the whole region was attended with the utmost 
consternation. 

Another expedition, under Governor Hamilton, the command- 
ant of Detroit, started out in 1778. The commander appeared 
before the fort of Vincennes, in December, with an army of thirty 
regulars, fifty French volunteers, and four hundred Indians. The 
people living in the neighborhood of the fort made no effort to 
defend it, and the only garrison within its walls was Captain 
Helm, and a private soldier, called Henry. Seeing the troops at 
a distance, they loaded a cannon, which they placed in the open 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



321 



gateway ; and the commandant of the fort, Captain Helm, stood 
by the cannon with a lighted match. When Governor Hamilton 
and his military approached within hailing distance. Helm called 
out with a loud voice, " Halt !" This show of resistance made 




HON. W. L. WEBBER. 

William L. Webber, of East Saginaw, was born July 19, 1825, at 
Ogden, Monroe county, New York. 

In June, 1830, he came with his father and family to Michigan, and 
settled in Hartland, Livingston county. He studied medicine two years, 
in 1847-8, at Milford, Oakland county, when, discovering that the law 
would be more congenial to his taste, he changed his reading to fit him- 
self for the latter profession, and was admitted to the bar in 1851. He 
removed to East Saginaw in March, 1853, where he at once took a lead- 
21 



322 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Hamilton stop and demand a surrender of the garrison, " No 
man," exclaimed Helm, with an oath, "enters here until I know the 
terms." Hamilton replied, " You shall have the honors of war," 
Helm thereupon surrendered the fort, and the whole garrison, 
consisting of the two already named, marched out and received 
the customary marks of- respect for their brave defense. Hamil- 
ton was afterwards met by General Clark, to whom he surren- 
dered. The British soldiers were suffered to return to Detroit ; 
but their commander, who was known to have been active in 
instigating Indian barbarities, was placed in irons, and sent to 
Virginia as a prisoner of war. 

The pious Moravian missionaries, on the banks of the Mus- 
kingum, did not escape the hand of the English at Detroit. They 
were suspected of holding a secret correspondence Avith the Con- 
gress at Philadelphia, and of contributing their influence, as well 
as that of their Indian congregation, to aid the American cause. 
Deputies were therefore sent to Niagara, and a grand council of 
the Iroquois was assembled, at which those Indians were urged to 
break up the Indian congregation collected by the Moravians, 
These tribes, not wishing to have anything to do with it, sent a 
message to the Chippewas and Ottawas, with a belt, stating that 
they gave the Indian congregation into their hands, " to make 
soup of." 

ing position as a lawyer. For many years he has been one of the 
prominent hiwyers of JSTorthern Micliigan. As a practitioner he was studi- 
ous, mastering all the law applicable to his cases, painstaking to learn 
all the facts from his client, alert to find out whatever was to be known 
in advance about the plans of his adversary, self-possessed and dignified 
in his conduct on the trial of cases, affable and fair to his bretliren in the 
profession, and, withal, zealous for his client. He was ever candid and 
faithful in his relations, professional and otherwise, keeping faith with 
everybody, as a matter of conscience and honor. 

Latterly, for several years, he was been intimately associated with the 
Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad as its attorney, and commissioner for 
the care and disposition of its large land grant. For this position he 
gave up general practice. By his judicious management of this land 
department, he has very largely contributed to the interior of the State 
north of the Saginaw river. He is at present mayor of the city of East 
Saginaw. 



HISTORY OF MICSIGAN. 323 

In 1781, these Moravian missionaries arrived at Detroit, when 
they were brought before De Peyster, the commandant. A war 
council was held, and the council house completely filled with 
Indians. Captain Pipe, an Indian chief, addressed the assembly, 
and told the commandant that " the English might fight the 
Americans if they chose ; it was their cause, and not his ; that 
they had raised a quarrel among themselves, and it was their 
business to fight it out. They had set him on the Americans, as 
the hunter sets his dog upon the game." By the side of the 
British commander stood another war chief, with a stick in his 
hand, four feet in length, strung with American scalps. This 
warrior followed Captain Pipe, saying : " Now, father, here is 
what has been done with the hatchet you gave me. I have 
made the use of it that you ordered me to do, and found it 
sharp." 

Such were the scenes at Detroit that occurred frequently, from 
the close of the Pontiac war till the advent of the " stars and 
stripes." During the whole course of the revolutionary war, the 
savage tribes in this vicinity were instigated to commit the most 
atrocious cruelties against the defenseless American settlements. 
Every avenue was closed whereby a difierent influence might be 
introduced among them, and they were made to believe that the 
Americans were only seeking to possess themselves of their lands, 
and to drive them away from the territory they had inherited 
from their fathers. But, at last, the great cause of American free- 
dom was triumphant. The treaty of Versailles was concluded in 
1783, and the settlers of Michigan were once more permitted to 
renew their labors in comparative peace. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



The Retention op the Western Posts by Great Britain After 
THE Treaty of 1783 — Northwestern Territory Organized — 
Indian Troubles Again — The Great War Council at Detroit 
— Campaign op General Harmer — St. Clair's Defeat — Wayne's 
Victories —Michigan Surrendered to the United States. 

We have said that the war was ended and peace established ; 
but no sooner was a treaty of peace concluded, than new troubles 
began to arise. We have seen how, during the revolutionary war, 
the western outposts of Great Britain were instrumental in send- 
ing the savages against the weak settlements ; and, now that the 
Americans had been victorious, England refused to withdraw her 
troops from the garrisons in the lake region. However, by the 
second article of Jay's treaty, in 1794, it was provided that the 
British troops should be withdrawn from all the posts assigned to 
the United States by the former treaty of 1783, on or before the 
first day of June, 1796. This matter being settled, the American 
people turned their attention to the Northwest, with a view to its 
settlement ; and measures were accordingly taken for its tempo- 
rary government. The circumstance which had more particu- 
larly directed the public attention to the Avestern domain was a 
memorial from the soldiers and officers of the Revolutionary army, 
presented to General Washington in 1783, setting forth their 
claims to a portion of the public lands. One difficulty that lay 
in the way was that the territory northwest of the Ohio was 
claimed by several of the Eastern States, on the ground that it 
was included within the limits indicated by their charter from 
the English Crown. But, in answer to the wishes of the govern- 
ment and people, these States, in a patriotic spirit, surrendered 
their claims to this extensive territory, that it might constitute a 
common fund, to aid in the payment of the national debt. 
Many of the native tribes conveyed to the United States their 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



325 



rights to territory in this domain, and thus was the way prepared 
for the erection of the territory northwest of the Ohio. A gov- 
ernment was formed for this extensive region, with Arthur St. 
Clair as Governor; and, on the seventh of April, 1788, a com- 




CHESTER B. JONES. 

Chester B. Jones, the subject of this sketch, was born in Western 
Pennsylvania, September 11, 1823. 

At an early age he passed through an academic course of education, at 
Erie. This finished, he emigrated to Kentucky, and taught school there 
and in other Southern States for several years. Having a desire for an 
active business life, he connected himself with a mercantile house, and 
traveled extensively through the Union representing their interests. 

In 1853, he became connected with a wealthy lumber firm in Albany, 



326 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

pany of forty-seven individuals landed at the site of the present 
town of Marietta, and there commenced the settlement of Ohio. 

We have seen that the western posts were still retained by the 
British government. This gave rise to several questions of no 
little interest, which excited unfriendly feelings between the two 
nations, and which largely governed their policy. Debts due by 
Americans to British subjects, the payment of which had been 
guaranteed. by the treaty, were not paid ; and, on the other hand, 
the slaves belonging to Americans, and who had been taken away 
by British officers, were not restored. In consequence of these, 
and other unsettled matters, when Baron Steuben was sent by 
General Washington to Sir Frederic Haldimand, at Quebec, to 
arrange for the occupation of these posts, with instructions to 
proceed to Michigan, and along the line of the lake frontier, for 
the purpose of taking j)ossession of them, he was informed that 
they would not be given up, and was refused passports to Niagara 
and Detroit. 

In addition to the retention of the western posts by the English, 
a new confederacy among the savages was organizing. In Decem- 
ber, 1786, a grand council of the different tribes was held near 
the mouth of the Detroit river. At this council were delegates 
from all the nations inhabiting the Northwest. The principal 
subject of discussion appears to have been the question of bound- 

iSTew York, and on the first day of April in that year arrived in East 
Saginaw, to manage their interests in that section. Although where East 
Saginaw now stands was then a wilderness, he had the foresight to see 
that the time was not far distant wiien the great lumber resources of that 
region would build up a large and influential citj'. With this idea in 
view, he at once went to work with the intention of permanentlj^ locating 
there. Being an energetic, christian young man, and faithful to the 
trusts consigned to his care, he soon built up an enviable reputation for 
integrity and good business qualities. Outsiders availed themselves of 
his knowledge and good judgment, and he rapidly became a prominent 
purchaser and shipper of lumber. He is also largely interested in real 
estate, and is intimately connected with the growth of his adopted city. 
Being of a retiring disposition, he has many times refused ofl3ces of 
public trust, which his fellow-citizens wished to bestow upon him. 
However, he is very active in all educational affairs, and has served 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 327 

ary. It was contended by the Indians that the United States had 
no right to cross the Ohio. This pending outbreak among the 
savages was undoubtedly the work of the English, who were again 
seeking their aid to harass the Americans. 

England set forth as a plea for retaining the western posts, that 
the extensive and valuable country in which they were situated 
had been ceded away through some oversight on the part of the 
commissioners, or from their ignorance of the geography of the 
country ; and now, aided by the savages, they hoped to retain 
their possessions in the West. It was at this juncture that Alex- 
ander McKenzie, an agent of the British government, visited 
Detroit, painted like an Indian, and stated that he had just 
returned from the remote tribes of the upper lakes, who were all 
in arms, and prepared to oppose the claims of the Americans to 
the western lands ; that large bodies of warriors had already 
assembled, and that they were about to attack the infant settle- 
ment of Ohio. These stories, gotten up by McKenzie, succeeded 
as he had desired. In 1794, an agent was sent from the Spanish 
settlements, on the banks of the Mississippi, for the same object, 
and to hasten the organization of the Indian confederacy against 
the United States. Excited by his speeches, bands of savage war- 
riors, armed with the tomahawk and scalping-knife, were seen 
hastening toward the lake posts, and the great Indian confeder- 
acy was formed against the Americans, equaling that constituted 

several years as a member of tlie board of education of his city. As 
cliairman of the building committee of that body, he has been very 
efficient, as the many beautiful school-houses in East Saginaw, erected 
under his supervision, bear witness. He is now president of the board. 

He was married to Miss Caroline H. Smith, daughter of Hon. Jeremiah 
Smith, of Grand Blanc, Michigan, on the 11th of January, 1859. 

In religious matters, Mr. Jones is liberal and 'generous, and takes a 
prominent part in the advanceinent of all good works. From his indus- 
try he has secured a competencj^ which is freely used in comforting the 
sick and supplying the wants of the poor. He is a true friend to indus- 
trious young men, and many have secured positions through his influence. 
He is truly one of that class of men that are an aid to the community in 
which they dwell, and is recognized as one of the public spirited pioneers 
and solid men of the Saginaw valley. 



328 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

a quarter of a century previous, under the great Pontiac, against 
the English themselves. 

The border incursions commenced immediately, and again the 
work of desolation reigned among the infant settlements on the 
Ohio. These outbreaks, which were believed to be the work of 
the British, induced the American government, in 1790, to send 
General Harmer, an able officer, with an army to quell them. He 
advanced against the hostile tribes with a force amounting to four- 
teen hundred men ; but, imprudently dividing his army, he was 
taken by surprise and defeated by a body of Indians, led by Little 
Turtle. Harmer having failed. General St. Clair advanced into the 
Indian country, in 1792, with two thousand men. This army was 
defeated by a large body of Indians who lay in ambush, and com- 
pelled to retreat. Efforts were now put forth to increase the 
army ; and, in 1793, General Anthony Wayne succeeded St. 
Clair in the command of the western army. Advancing through 
the forest to the spot which had been rendered memorable by 
the defeat of St. Clair, he there constructed a fort, and called it 
Fort Recovery. 

Advaiiciug further into the wilderness, he found many Indian 
villages deserted. At the Rapids of the Maumee he erected 
Fort Deposit, where he stored his supplies. They were now 
within a few miles of a British post, which had been garrisoned 
by soldiers sent from Detroit, for the purpose of aiding the 
Indians. General Wayne had been instructed to use his English 
opponents according to the usages of war ; and, with a bold deter- 
mination, he pushed forward to the enemy's fort. The Indian 
force, their whole strength being collected at this point, was, in 
numbers, about the same as that of the Americans, The Indians 
were stationed in a dense forest, and protected by the bank of the 
river and a breastwork of fallen trees, and they were disposed in 
three lines, within supporting distance of each other. The bat- 
tle soon followed ; and, through stratagem, Wayne was successful, 
and. completely routed the savages. He destroyed the Indian 
villages and corn fields on the banks of the Maumee, and pro- 
ceeded towards Fort Defiance. Before he left the battle ground, 
however, he paraded his force in front of the British post, that 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 329 

they might see its strength ; while he advanced towards the 
glacis, to examine the character of the position, and to ascertain, 
as far as was possible, what were the intentions of the garrison. 
The American officers, as they drew near, could discover the Brit- 
ish soldiers, with matches lighted and standing by their guns, 
ready for any emergency that might arise. General Wayne 
finally concluded a treaty with the Indians, at Greenville, which 
effectually broke up the whole confederacy. 

In 1795, a project was started, which, had it been successful, 
would have injured the interests of the West. Robert Randall 
and Charles Whitney, of Vermont, in connection with several 
merchants of Detroit, entered into a compact, for the purpose of 
appropriating to themselves a vast territory, comprising nearly 
twenty millions of acres, situated between Lakes Erie and Michi- 
gan. The land was to be divided into a number of shares, and 
distributed among the purchasers and the members of Congress 
who should exert their influence in procuring the passage of the 
necessary law. But, as soon as the corrupt character of the plot 
had been discovered, the two principal projectors were brought 
before the bar of the House of Representatives. On hearing the 
evidence, Randall was discharged, but Whitney was fined the 
amount of the costs, and received a severe reprimand. 

Wayne's victory having broken the Indian power, and the 
treaty of Greenville binding them from further aggressions, the 
Island of Mackinaw and the fort of Detroit were surrendered 
by the English, but the retiring garrisons, to show their spite, 
locked the gates of the fort, broke all the windows in the bar- 
racks, and filled the wells with stones, so as to annoy the new occu- 
pants as much as was in their power. 

It was in the beginning of June, 1796, that Captain Porter, 
with a detachment of American troops, entered the fort, which 
had been previously evacuated by the British. The American 
flag was displayed, and the dominion of the country peaceably 
transferred. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



William Hull Appointed Governor of the Territory of Michi- 
gan — Tecumseh's Warriors Assembling — An Army Raised in 
Ohio — It Marches to Detroit Under General Hull — War 
Declared Between England and the United States — Hull 
AdvaisCES intd Canada. 

It was a considerable time before tlie Territory of Michigan, 
now in the possession of the United States, was improved or 
altered by the increase of settlements. The Canadian French 
continued to form the principal part of its population. The 
interior of the country was but little known, except by the Indians 
and the fur traders. The Indian title not being fully extinguished, 
no lands were brought into market, and consequently the settle- 
ments increased but slowly. The State of Michigan at this time 
constituted simply the county of Wayne in the Northwest terri- 
tory. It sent one representative to the legislature of that territory, 
which was held at Chilicothe. A court of common pleas was 
organized for the county, and the general court of the whole 
territory sometimes met at Detroit. No roads had as yet been 
constructed through the interior, nor were there any settlements, 
except on the frontiers. The habits of the people were essentially 
military, and but little attention was paid to agriculture, except 
by the French peasantry. A representation was sent to the gen- 
eral assembly of the Northwest territory at Chilicothe until 1800, 
when Indiana was erected into a separate territory. Two years 
later Michigan was annexed to and continued to be a part of the 
Territory of Indiana until 1805, when, in the month of January 
of that year, it was erected into a separate territory, and William 
Hull appointed its first governor. 

We will not interrupt the narrative here to notice the acts of 
Governor Hull's administration in detail, as this information will 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



331 



be found in succeeding chapters devoted to the political history of 
Michigan. 

We have seen that Michigan had but just emerged from a suc- 
cession of Indian wars, and now another was evidently preparing. 




HON. JAMES F. JOY. 

James F. ,Ioy, of Detroit, was born at Durham, New Hampshire, 
December 2, 1810. 

His father, a manufacturer of scythes and other implements, was a man 
of iron muscles, large brain, and great mental as well as moral power. 
Like all the strong men of New England, he appreciated the value of 
education, and a moral and religious culture for his children, and so he 
labored earnestly day by day that they might enjoy those advantages 
which honest poverty had denied to him. He was a man who practiced 



332 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

This was in the shaj^e of another confederacy, which was directly 
instigated by the English. The old story was revived, that the 
Americans were about to drive the Indians from the lands, that 
they might occupy them themselves. The chief projectors of this 
war were Tecumseh and his brother, the prophet. Tecumseh led 
the nations to war, while his brother, Elkswatawa, operated on 
the minds of the savages by means of superstition, and excited 
them to a high pitch of ferocity. These new troubles were indeed 
nothing more than the Americans might have expected. The 
Indians saw a new power encroaching upon the inheritance that 
had been handed down to them from their ancestors. It was not 
difficult, therefore, to unite them in one last desperate effort to 
resist this usurping power. Their titles had been only partially 
extinguished, and they complained that, where this had been done, 
the treaties had been unfairly conducted ; that the Indians had 
been deceived ; that they were in a state of intoxication at the 
time they signed away their lands, and that, even under these 
circumstances, only a part of the tribes had given their consent. 
The dissatisfaction existing among them was artfully fomented by 

himself and taught his family all the virtues of the New England 
calendar. 

Having fitted himself for college with such aid as his father could give 
him, James F. Joy entered Dartmouth, and graduated therefrom in 1833, 
having the rank of the first scholar of his class and winning the valedic- 
tory assigned to him as such. From Dartmouth College, with all its holy 
and inspiring associations and memories as the school of Webster and 
Choate, and such men, and as the subject of Webster's grand constitu- 
tional argument and most eloquent appeal to the supreme court, Joy went 
to Cambridge, where, during the years 1833 and 1834, he had the benefit 
of the teaching and example, and was cheered, encouraged and stimulated 
by the friendship of Story and Greenleaf, and where he laid broad and 
deep the foundations for that great structure he has since reared thereon. 
Being poor, however, he was compelled to leave the law school and 
enter the academy at Pittsfield as its preceptor, and while there he was 
employed as tutor in Dartmouth College, to instruct the classes in Latin, 
which he did for a year, and then returned to the law school in Cam- 
bridge, where he completed his studies and spent another year. 

Mr. Joy was a thorough classical scholar, and, during all the labors of 
the last thirty years, while engaged in his profession, or in those vast 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 333 

the agents of the Northwest Fur Company, who foresaw that if 
the Americans were permitted to occupy this country they would 
be cut off from a valuable portion of their trade ; while the 
English government, which ceded away this extensive tract with- 
out any very definite idea of its resources, looked with complacency 
on any attempts made by the savages to retain it in their hands. 
The American pioneers of the West had, no doubt, slighted the 
rights of the Indians, and wrongs had been inflicted which required 
correction. Taking advantage of this, the traders and the English 
generally were indefatigable in rousing the Indians to war. The 
prophet commenced his mission in 1806, and did all that supersti- 
tion could do to excite the fury of the Indians against the 
Americans. The plan for the league was not unlike that formed 
by Pontiac. Tecumseh's plan was to surprise the posts of Detroit, 
Fort Wayne, Chicago, St. Louis and Vincennes, and to unite all 
the tribes from the borders of New York to the Mississippi. As 
early as the year 1807, the Shawanese chief and his brother, the 
prophet, were actively engaged in sending their emissaries, with 
presents and war-belts, to the most distant tribes, to induce them 

railroad enterprises which he has founded and constructed with such 
eminent ability and success, has never neglected to keep up, as far as 
possible, his early studies. Although the railway king of the Northwest, 
he is more than this— he is a ripe scholar, a man of great literary attain- 
ments and a most eminent and able lawyer, who, to-day, has few 
superiors in this country in all that vast code of law that has grown up 
as a part and parcel of the railway system of the United States, and is a 
thorough master of constitutional law. Take him away to-day from his 
avocation as president of several long lines of railway, place him 
at Cambridge, and he would be a most competent and able lecturer 
on the law; transfer him back to Dartmouth, and he would prove, even 
now, a thorough, capable teacher of Latin or nearly any other depart- 
ment of learning. 

In September, 1836, he came to Detroit and entered the law office of 
Hon. Augustus S. Porter. At that time, he was not worth a hundred 
dollars in the world. During the year that he remained in the office with 
Mr. Porter, he attracted attention to his character for industry, steadiness 
of purpose, devotion to business and high moral principles; and, when 
admitted in 1837, he at once entered on a fine and large practice. 

Soon after he came to the bar, he became a partner of George F. 



3^4 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

to join in the confederacy ; and when the comet appeared in 1811, 
the latter artfully turned it to account, by practicing on the super- 
stitions of the savages. On the 4th of May, a special mission, 
consisting of deputies from the Ottawas, was sent to a distant post 
upon the borders of Lake Superior, and a grand council being 
there assembled, it was addressed by Le Marquoit, or the Trout. 
He told the Indians that he had been sent by the messenger and 
representative of the Great Spirit, and that he was commissioned 
to deliver to them a speech from the " first man whom God had 
created, said to be in the Shawanese country." He then informed 
them what were the instructions of that Great Spirit in the suc- 
ceeding address : " I am the Father of the English, of the French, 
of the Spaniards, and of the Indians. I created the first man, 
who was the common father of all these people as well as of our- 
selves, and it is through him, whom I have awakened from his long 
sleep, that I now address you. But the Americans I did not 
make. They are not my children, but the children of the evil 
spirit. They grew from the scum of the great water when it was 
troubled by the evil spirit, and the froth was driven into the 

Porter, a former banker, and a man of much practical business knowledge, 
and to Mr. Joy he was invaluable. .Joy & Porter soon became the 
attorneys and counselors of the Dwights of Boston, Arthur and Frederick 
Bronson, of New York, and in 1847, when John W. Brooks came from 
Boston to Michigan to purchase the then Detroit & St. Joseph Railroad, 
he came consigned to Joy as the man to take the legal charge of all the 
negotiations and to act as counsel for the new stockholders in that great 
enterprise. Brooks intrusted to Mr. Joy all the negotiations, and by him 
the purchase was made from the State, the acts drawn and passed, the 
purchase money secured, and the Michigan Central Railroad, now one of 
the best in the woi-ld, was born into existence with Joy as the legal 
accoucheur at its birth. 

With the completion of the new line to Chicago, he at once started to 
extend it to the Missouri river, and, organizing the Chicago, Burlington 
& Quincy Railroad, he built up one of the most lucrative and best 
regulated and managed roads in the United States. Not only has he built 
this grand road, but he has paid regular dividends and more than 
quadrupled its stock out of its earnings. Instead of appropriating these 
earnings to his own private wealth like the officers of many other similar 
corporations, he has given them all to the stockholders. Mr. Joy is 



fliSTORY OF MICHIGAN. 335 

woods by a strong east wind. They are enormous, but I hate 
them. My children, you must not speak of this talk to the 
whites ; it must be hidden from them. I am now on the earth, 
sent by the Great Spirit, to instruct you. Each village must send 
me two or more principal chiefs, to represent you, that you may 
be taught. The bearer of this talk must point out to you the 
path to my wigwam. I could not come myself to L'Arbre 
Croche, because the world is changed from what it was. It is 
broken and leans down, and as it declines the Chippewas and all 
beyond will fall off and die ; therefore, you must come to see me 
and be instructed. Those villages which do not listen to this talk 
will be cut off from the face of the earth." 

It was through these means that the savages were roused to 
attack the frontier settlemejQts of the West, and, later, to unite 
with the English during the memorable war of 1812, 

In 1805, as shown elsewhere, Detroit was destroyed by fire, and, 
on being rebuilt, the stockade was dispensed. But now that the 
forests were again filled with hostile Indians, a new stockade was 
constructed around the new town of Detroit for its better defense. 

president and a director of the Michigan Central, president and director 
of tlie Hannibal & St. Joseph road, the Missouri River & Council 
Blufls Railroad and their different branches, and is an officer and stock- 
holder in several others. He and Mi*. Brooks also organized the company 
for the construction of the St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal, connecting the 
navigation of Lake Superior with that of the lower lakes for all classes of 
vessels — a work of great national importance. 

Since the close of the war, he has mainly devoted himself to the con- 
struction of railroads, for the most part in this State. It was through 
his efforts that the Detroit, Lansing & Lake Michigan Railroad has thus 
far been completed. The road from Detroit to Bay City, and also the 
Chicago & Michigan Lake Shore Railroad, extending from New Bufialo 
to Pentwater, with branches to Grand Rapids, and Big Rapids, have also 
been built by his means and influence. He did much also to promote 
the construction of the Grand River Valley, and the Jackson, Lansing & 
Saginaw roads, while at the same time also lie was engaged in similar 
works in Kansas and Nebraska. Perhaps it is not too much to say, that 
no single man in the West has done so much to promote and push for- 
ward the public improvements and contributed so much to the develop- 
ment of the resources and wealth of the great West as he has done. 



S36 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

In September, 1809, a special council of the Hurons was called 
near Brownstown, and, at the instigation of their principal chief, 
Walk-in-the- Water, they freely spoke of their grievances to Gov- 
ernor Hull. The speech addressed by this chief to the Governor, 
setting forth the title of his tribe to a large tract of territory near 
the Detroit river, which was claimed by the United States, under 
the treaty of Greenville, shows how dissatisfied they were with 
this treaty, and with the encroachments of the American people. 
In the midst of all these evidences of war, the Territory of Michi- 
gan remained in a comparatively defenseless state. There were 
at this time, in the whole territory, but nine settlements of any 
importance ; nor were the inhabitants of these villages calculated 
to show any considerable resistance to the approaching incursions 
of the savages. These settlements were situated on the Rivers 
Miami and Raisin, on the Huron of Lake Erie, on the Ecorse, 
Rouge and Detroit rivers, on the Huron of St. Clair, the St. 
Clair river, and the Island of Mackinaw. In addition to these 
there were, here and there, a group of huts belonging to the 
French fur traders. The villages upon the Maumee, the Raisin, 
and the Huron of Lake Erie, contained a population of about 

Mr. Joy's habits of mind and life are too rigid to allow him to be a 
politician, yet, at the commencement of the great war, he was induced 
to go to the legislature of the State, where his ability and influence did 
much to prepare the State for the great contest which was impending. 
He was chairman of the committee of ways and means, and had a large 
influence in settling the financial policy of the State, which has since 
relieved it from all embarrassment, and enabled it rapidly to extinguish 
its funded debt. 

What his fortune is, no one but himself can state, but that it is very 
large all nmst know; yet all his habits of life, his dress, his home, his 
equipage, though rich and genteel, are simple and unostentatious. He 
neither indulges in the use of tobacco or intoxicating liquors. He never 
wastes his time in the follies of societj", but devotes it to the improving 
of his mind, making the most of every hour and achieving something 
for the future; and yet he has neither became a miser or a greedy lover 
of money. As a member of the Congregational Church, he is consistent 
and liberal; and as a father, he has watched carefully over his children, 
giving them all the benefit of a thorough education, and training them to 
lives of industry and integrity. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



337 



thirteen hundred ; the post of Detroit and the settlements on the 
Kivers Rouge and Ecorse, and on the Huron of Lake St. Clair, num- 
bered about two thousand two hundred ; the Island of Mackinaw 
about one thousand. Detroit was garrisoned by ninety-four men, 




HON. ALBERT MILLER. 

Albert Miller was born at Hartland, Windsor county, Vermont, 
May 10, 1810. 

His father, Jeremy Miller, who was of English descent, was a native of 
Middletown, Connecticut; and his mother was a native of Hartland, her 
maternal grandfather having been the first settler in that town, and her 
ancestors on her father's side were among those who landed at Plymouth 
Rock, in 1620. 

Jeremy Miller died in March, 1817, leaving the subject of this sketch, 
who was the youngest of four children, to the care of a devoted mother, 
22 



338 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

and Mackinaw by seventy-nine. Thus, the entire population of 
the State was only about four thousand eight hundred, four-fifths 
of whom were French, and the remainder Americans. 

An Indian war being now apparent, a memorial was presented 
to Congress, setting forth the defenseless condition of the Terri- 
tory, and praying for aid from that body. This memorial 
was signed by the principal inhabitants of Detroit, and sent to 
Washington on the twenty-seventh of December, 1811. Tecum- 
seh had collected his warriors, and was now ready for action. 
The first hostile demonstration was in the shape of marauding 
parties, going from one settlement to another and committing 
depredations. 

On the banks of the Kalamazoo river, a smith's forge had 
been erected, where hatchets and scalping-knives were made by 
the savages ; and, at no great distance from this, the Indian 
women were cultivating corn, with which to supply the warriors 
with food. All the plans having been fully matured, the contest 
at length began, on the banks of the Wabash, at the Prophet's 
town. The Indian warriors from all quarters came to join 

witli but limited means ; and whatever success has attended him is 
attributable alone to his own exertions and the judicious training received 
from his mother. 

Until he was nine years of age, he attended the district school in his 
native town the three summer months of each year, and from that time 
until he was eighteen, he attended six months in the year. At this age, 
he had acquired sufficient education to teach a district school, and occu- 
pied himself at that work the two succeeding winters. Determined to 
receive a thorough education, in 1830 he entered the Kimball and Union 
Academj^ at Meriden, New Hampshire, to prepare himself for college, 
but, within four weeks after entering the academy, he was prostrated by 
a severe illness, which so enfeebled him that he was obliged to give up 
his long cherished wish to obtain a collegiate education. 

Mr. Miller, upon recovering his health, decided to come West, and 
started from his home on the 2d of September, 1830, and arrived in 
Detroit, Michigan, on the 22d of the same month. The people of that 
town then pointed to its size with pride — it contained 2,222 inhabitants. 
Being joined by his father's family in the spring of 1831, he located and 
settled on eighty acres of land at Grand Blanc, Genesee county. In 1833, 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 339 

Tecumseh, and the English, on the opposite shores, looked on with 
deep interest upon what was passing, regarding the savages as 
important allies in the conflict in which they expected shortly to 
be engaged. 

A body of troops was collected in Ohio, consisting of about 
twelve hundred men, raised by order of the President of the 
United States; and this number was largely increased by volun- 
teers. These troops Avere formed into three regiments, under the 
command of Colonels McArthur, Finelly and Cass ; and a fourth 
regiment, about three hundred strong, under Colonel Miller, after- 
wards joined them, the whole being under the command of Gen- 
eral Hull, the Governor of Michigan. "With this force, General 
Hull marched from Dayton towards Detroit. 

While under march, near the River Raisin, on the third of 
July, 1812, General Hull received dispatches from Washington 
City, announcing the declaration of war against England. Two 
days after, they reached the River Huron, where a floating bridge 
was constructed, so that the entire army, with all the baggage and 
stores, passed over in safety. On the fifth of July, the army passed 

he purchased from the government a tract of land on the east side of the 
Saginaw river, at the junction of the Shiawassee and Tittabawassee rivers 
with it, and settled there in February of that year. 

At the spring election of that year, he was elected to an office which 
constituted him one of the inspectors of election for his township, and 
during his residence there of fifteen years, he was a constant member of 
the board of inspectors, and never absent from a single election. Upon 
the organization of the county of Saginaw, in 1835, he was appointed 
judge of probate for the county, by Stevens T. Mason, then acting gover- 
nor of the territory, which office he lield for nine years. He was also a 
justice of the peace for the township of Saginaw for thirteen successive 
years. In 1847, he represented the county of Saginaw in the State legis- 
lature. At this session, the capitol was removed from Detroit to Lansing. 
He was one of the committee of arrangements at the laying of the corner 
stone of tlie new State capitol. 

Judge Miller was married to Miss Mary Ann Daglish, of Detroit, 
February 6, 1838. Of this marriage, there has been six children, only 
one of whom is still living. 

In December, 1838, Judge Miller and wife both united with the Presby- 



340 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the Indian council ground at Brownstown, crossed the River 
Rouge, and encamped at Springwells, about three miles below 
Detroit. The Fourth Regiment marched to the fort, and occupied 
it, on the following day. The volunteers took up their position 
near the fort, and a movement was made to procure a large num- 
ber of boats, for the purpose of transporting the army into 
Canada. Orders were accordingly issued for the army to be in 
readiness to cross the river early on the following morning; and, 
at this time, the army moved up the river to a point opposite the 
lower end of Hog Island. It was now daylight, of a delightfully 
bright summer morning. The whole line entered the boats, 
which had on the previous evening been taken from opposite the 
fort, at a point near Sandwich, in order to mislead the enemy as 
to the place selected for their advance. The army was not 
attacked on landing in Canada, as they expected, and marched 
down the road along the bank of the river, to a point opposite the 
town, presenting a fine appearance from the opposite shore. The 
inhabitants, nearly all Canadian French, welcomed the troops as 
friends, and white handkerchiefs and flags waved from every 

terian church, and to-day they are still members of this denomination. 
He has materially aided the churches of the Saginaw valley from their 
infancy, and has twice represented the Presbytery of Saginaw in the 
general assembly — at Philadelphia, in 1863, and in 1870. 

Judge Miller is now residing at Bay City, where he caused the town of 
Portsmouth to be laid out in 1836, and near where he built the second 
saw mill that was put in operation on the Saginaw river. He has resided 
here since 1848. 

•Judge Miller has always sustained the highest reputation for integrity, 
and, as a consequence, has enjoyed the fullest confidence of the com- 
munities in which he has lived. He is gentle and affiible in his manner 
to all classes; he has ever been in fellowship with the good, and full of 
sympathy for the poor. 

Though he has borne the burden and seen all the vicissitudes of pioneer 
life, he has not been demoralized by its vices nor prematurely aged by its 
hardships. He is enjoying in competence a contented retirement. He 
witnesses with fatherly interest the varied activities that distinguish the 
Saginaw valley, without permitting the serenity of his old age to be dis- 
turbed by an unseemly greed and scramble for more wealth. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 841 

house, and many greeted the army with shouts of, " We like the 
Americans !" A vacant, unfinished, two-story brick house, belong- 
ing to Colonel Baby, with extensive grounds, became the head- 
quarters and intrenched camp of the northwestern army in 




A. W. WRIGHT. 

Ammi Willard Wright, of Saginaw City, was born at Grafton, Ver- 
mont, July 5, 1822. 

He emigrated to Michigan in 1850, remaining in Detroit for over a 
year. From here he removed to Portsmouth, now a part of Bay City, 
where he settled in JSTovember, 1851, making that his home until 1852. 

During the winter of 1852, he commenced his lumbering operations, 
and has continued to deal heavily in this commodity ever since. In 1859, 
he entered the lumber manufacturing firm of Miller, Paine & Wright, 



342 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Canada. The roof of the house was shingled, the floors laid, and 
the windows in ; otherwise, it was entirely unfinished. A parti- 
tion of rough boards was put up on each side of the hall, which 
ran entirely through the building. General Hull, with his aids, 
occupied the north half of the house; General James Taylor, 
Quartermaster-General of the array, with his two assistants, occu- 
pied the south side. The councils of war were held in the 
second story, over the room occupied by the Commanding Gen- 
eral, access to which was had by a rough stairway. General 
Hull, and his son, Captain Hull, lodged, most of the time, at 
headquarters ; General Taylor, being unwell, lodged in Detroit. 

While at these headquarters. General Hull issued a lengthy 
proclamation to the people of Canada. In this document he 
promised protection to life and property, if the inhabitants main- 
tained a strict neutrality ; but that, if the barbarous policy of 
Great Britain, in letting loose the Indians to murder American 
citizens, was pursued, the war would become a war of extermina- 

and after doing business for a number of years, -this firm was dissolved. 
Mr. Wright went into a co-partnership with J. H. Pearson, Esq., of 
Chicago, in the spring of 1865, under the firm name of A. W. Wriglit & 
Co. In June following the formation of this firm, their mill burned 
down, and they immediately rebuilt it on the old site on a much larger 
scale, and with many improvements. Afterwards, they erected another 
large mill, farther down the river, and carried on a very extensive lumber 
manufacturing business until they sold out their mill property. This 
firm still exists, but they are no longer engaged in the manufacture of 
lumber. 

Mr. Wright stands in the front rank of the sterling business men of 
the Saginaw valley, and though shrinking from notoriety, has been a 
leading spirit in many public enterprises. He was president of the 
Saginaw & St. Louis Plank Road Company; is treasurer, director and a 
heavy stockholder in the Saginaw Valley & St. Louis Railroad Company; 
is a director in the Saginaw & St. Clair Railroad; is vice-president and 
director of the First National Bank; president and superintendent of the 
Tittabawassee Boom Company, and holds many other important business 
positions. 

In manner, Mr. Wright is pleasant and social, of a kind disposition, 
and possessed of a generous nature. He is benevolent to his employes 
and ever enjoys their hearty good will. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 343 

tion. He warned them that no white man caught fighting by the 
side of an Indian would be taken prisoner, but would instantly 
be put to death ; and closed with the hope that the Divine Ruler 
would guidethem in their choice to a result most compatible with 
their rights, interests and happiness. This address is said to have 
been written by Governor (then Colonel) Cass. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



MiCHiLrMACKrNAC — Removal op the Foet to Mackikaw Islakd — 
Condition of the Fort and Settlement in 1812 — Captain 
Roberts' Expedition Captures the Fort — The Garrison Sent 
to Detroit — The English Once More in Possession of Macki- 
naw. 

Leaving Hull and his army at Sandwich, in Canada, we will 
now return to long-forgotten Michilimackinac. We have seen 
how, about one year after the massacre, the British again sent 
troops, under Captain Howard, to garrison the fort. After this, 
the next event that attracts our notice was the removal of the 
fort. In 1779, a party of British officers from the post of Michili- 
mackinac visited the Island of Mackinaw, which lies in the 
straits separating the two peninsulas of Michigan, for the purpose 
of selecting a suitable site for the fort. This done, they gained 
permission from the Indians to occupy it, and the fort was 
removed to the Island in the summer of 1780, the troops tak- 
ing possession July fifteenth. The removal of the inhabitants 
from the mainland was gradual, and the fort, which was built 
on the site of the present one, was not completed until 1783. 

In 1795, when the British gave up Fort Mackinaw to the 
Americans, they repaired to the Island of St. Joseph, which is 
situated in the St. Mary's river, about twenty miles above 
Detour, and there constructed a fort. At the commencement 
of the war of 1812, the fort was garrisoned by a small detach- 
ment of British regulars, under command of Captain Roberts. 
At this time, the garrison of Fort Mackinaw consisted of only 
fifty-seven effective men, under the command of Lieutenant 
Hanks. The walls, which had been built by the English in 1780, 
and which are still standing, were surmounted by a palisade of 
cedar pickets, about ten feet high, intended as a defense against 
the Indians. To make it impossible to scale this palisade, each 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



345 



picket was protected at the top by sharp iron prongs. Through 
it were numerous port-holes, through which a leaden shower of 
death might be poured upon any foe that should come near. 
Two or three guns, of small calibre, were planted at convenient 




HON. L. B. PARKER. 

L. B. Parker, a prominent citizen and a leading physician of St. 
Clair county, was born at Moores, Clinton county, N. Y., July 19, 1818. 

His father was a man of limited means, and unable to give his children 
such assistance as was essential to secure them a liberal education, but the 
subject of this sketch being well supplied with the "never give up" 
principle, found means to give himself the instruction requisite in the 
important positions he was destined to fill. 

In 1824, his father moved to Fairfax, Vermont, and here he attended 
the common school for some time and until a high school was opened at 



346 GENERAL HISTORY^OF THE STATES. 

places upon the walls, and one small piece in each of the three 
block houses, which are yet standing. The town, at the time, was 
small. Except the old distillery, which stood upon the beach, 
some little distance from the present western limits of Shanty- 
town, no building had been erected west of the house recently 
occupied by Mr. A. Davenport, and none east of the fort garden, 
except one small shanty, which stood near the present site of the 
old mission church. With one exception, the houses were all one- 
story buildings, built of cedar, and roofed with cedar bark. The 
several traders then on the Island had each a store, and there 
was one dock, so called, which consisted of two cribs, filled with 
stone, and connected with each other and with the beach by ten 
logs, placed side by side. 

When war was declared, there was an unpardonable negligence 
on the part of the War Department, in not furnishing the west- 
ern frontier with information of that important event. Owing 
to this negligence, the English opposite Detroit were in posses- 
sion of the news before it reached the American side, and the 
English commander, taking advantage of that fact, hastened to 

Fairfax Centre, three miles distant, by Professor Hartwell Farrar. He 
attended this high school two terms. Leaving home at fifteen years of 
age, he, from that time, received no assistance, save from friends whom 
he had won by his manly exertions in his own behalf. Teaching school 
winters, he thus secured the means to attend the academy at St. Albans, 
during the summer seasons. 

Mr. Parker commenced his medical studies with Drs. Hall and Ballou, 
of St. Albans, in 1839, and graduated at Castleton College, Castleton, 
Vermont, in June, 1843. He immediately commenced the practice of his 
profession at Cambridge, in the same State, where he remained two 
years and a half. 

Dr. Parker emigrated to Michigan in 1846, and settled in Newport (now 
Marine City), St. Clair county, where he still resides. Here he soon built 
up a large and lucrative business, and he is now one of the leading and 
most successful ph3'sicians in that county. 

He married Miss Jane Sparrow, of Algonac, July 6, 1852. Of this 
marriage, there has been seven children, six of whom are still living — 
four boys and two girls . 

Dr. Parker has ever taken an active part in politics, and, being educated 
a Democrat, he still advocates the principles of that party. Yet, he is not 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 347 

transmit the intelligence to all his outposts, and take such steps 
as would best secure the interests of the British Crown. With 
almost incredible dispatch, a messenger was sent to the Island of 
St. Joseph, situated in St. Mary's river, bearing a letter to Cap- 
tain Roberts, containing the information of the declaration of 
war, and also the suggestion of au immediate attack on Fort 
Mackinaw. Roberts was but poorly prepared for an enterprise 
of such moment, yet, entering warmly into the views of his 
superior officer, and being cordially supported by the agents of 
the Northwest Fur Company, he was not long in deciding upon 
his course. The Ottawas and Chippewas, two neighboring Indian 
tribes, soon flocked to his standard in large numbers. The French, 
jealous of the Americans, still further augmented his strength ; 
and, in the short space of eight days, he had a force, naval and 
military, of more than a thousand men at his command. On 
the sixteenth day of July, he embarked for Mackinaw. 

But all this was unsuspected by the little garrison and the 
inhabitants of Mackinaw. The first intimation which they 
received that all was not right was from the conduct of the 

a bitter party man, but lends his influence and aid to tlie support of 
whatever is patriotic and tends to produce harmony and advance the 
condition of the State and Union. During the rebellion, he was known 
as a war Democrat, and did much to assist the government in its efforts 
to sustain the Union. In 1848, he was nominated by the Deinocrats as 
their candidate for representative in the State legislature from the first 
district of St. Clair county, but, that party being in the minority, he was 
not elected. He served as vice-president of the St. Clair count}^ agricul- 
tural society one year, and, in 1860, was elected to the State senate from 
St. Clair county and served in that body during the sessions of 1861-62. 
He has also held a number of important offices in the village in which he 
resides, and has taken a great interest in educational matters, being one 
of the union school trustees and president of the board of education for 
a number of years. 

Dr. Parker is a man of strong determination, and performs his duties 
without fear or favor. He is universally honest and upright in all his 
dealings with his fellow men, and by his strict integrity and constant 
application to his profession, has secured an ample fortune, being now 
engaged in lumbering, and is also the owner of some valuable vessel 
property. 



348 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Indians. In obedience to the summons of Captain Roberts, they 
were going toward the Sault in large numbers. This caused 
some uneasiness, and Lieutenant Hanks, with the citizens of the 
place, made every effort to learn from them the object of their 
journey. Several councils were called, but in vain. Seegeenoe, 
chief of the Ottawas, was questioned closely, but not a word could 
be elicited from him which in any way explained their conduct. 

Failing to get any satisfaction from the Indians, they next 
called a public meeting of the citizens, where it was resolved to 
make yet another effort to unravel the mystery. One Mr. Dous- 
man, an American fur trader, had, some time before, sent two of 
his agents into the Lake Superior region, to trade with the 
Indians for furs. He had heard of their return to the Sault, 
but knew of no reason why they had not returned to his head- 
quarters at Mackinaw. He, therefore, on the sixteenth of July, 
under the pretense of ascertaining the reason of their delay, but 
really to learn what it was that called so many of the Indians 
in that direction, set out for the Sault. He had not gone far 
before he learned the whole truth ; for, meeting Captain Roberts' 
expedition, he was taken prisoner, barely escaping with his life. 
In the evening of the same day, when the expedition was near- 
ing the Island, it was proposed by Captain Roberts to send one 
Oliver, a British trader, to the people of the town, to inform them 
of his approach, and conduct them to a place of safety. Mr. 
Dousman now urged upon Captain Roberts that the people 
would, perhaps, be slow to believe such a report from a stranger ; 
and, anxious for the safety of his friends, asked leave to return on 
that mission himself This he was permitted to do, having first 
taken oath that he would not give information of their approach 
to the garrison. He returned to the harbor, in front of the town, 
and, an hour before day, proceeded to the house of Mr. A. R. Daven- 
port, and rapped loudly at the door. Mr. Davenport, on learning 
who was at the door, rose hastily, and went out, where he learned 
from his friend that ivai' had been declared, and that the British 
had come to take the fort, being already upon the island. The 
news spread rapidly from one settler to another, yet the fort 
remained in ignorance of danger, for none dare betray the secret. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



349 



Word was circulated that if the citizens took refuge in the dis- 
tillery, they would be safe. Like wild-fire, the message went from 
mouth to mouth, until every man, woman and child were on their 
way to the place of promised safety. 




HON. G. D. WILLIAMS. 

GARDffER D. Williams, late of the city of Saginaw, was a descendant 
of a Welsli family. His ancestor, Robert Williams, settled in Roxbury, 
Massachusetts, in 1638, only eighteen years after the arrival of the 
Mayflower. 

The branch of the family from which Judge Williams descended 
remained in Roxbury for five generations. His father, Oliver Williams, 
removed to Concord, Massachusetts, about the year 1794, where the sub- 
ject of this sketch was born, September 7, 1804. 



350 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Meanwhile, Captain Roberts proceeded to the northwest side of 
the Island, landed his forces, and began his march toward the 
fort. At the farm near the landing they took possession of a 
number of cattle, and, before the dawn of day, reached the hol- 
low which may be seen a short distance to the rear of the fort. 
Upon a little ridge, which separates this hollow from the parade 
ground, they planted a gun in the road, and anxiously awaited the 
approach of day. The dawn appeared, and the unsuspecting gar- 
rison began to move. As Lieutenant Hanks looked out from his 
quarters, he was surprised at the unusual quiet that prevailed in 
the town below. No smoke was seen curling from the chimney- 
tops, and no footsteps were heard in the streets. This looked 
strange, and he ordered Lieutenant Darrow, with two men, to go 
down and ascertain the reason. 

When this officer arrived at the distillery, the truth flashed 
upon him. Under a strong guard which had been sent by Cap- 
tain Roberts, the inhabitants of the place were awaiting the deci- 
sion that would again make them subjects of the British Crown. 
Darrow entered the distillery, and shook hands with its inmates ; 

Oliver "Williams came to Detroit in 1807, leaving his family in Concord. 
He engaged in business there as a merchant, and was one of the largest 
dealers in Detroit. He brought from Boston at one time, for his trade, 
$64,000 in goods. About the year 1811, he built the sloop "Friend's 
Good Will," on board of which he visited Mackinaw in 1812. At that 
place, his vessel was chartered by the government to go to Chicago for 
furs. He proceeded to that place under the charter, and took on board 
ninety-nine packs of furs belonging to the government, besides a quantity 
of his own. On his return voyage, his vessel was captured by the 
British at Mackinaw, that post having capitulated in his absence. The 
capture was effected by a rnse of the enemy. On approaching the 
fortress, Mr. Williams saw the American flag flj'ing, and a sentry in 
American uniform on guard, and had no suspicion that the post had 
changed hands. He was undeceived only when too late to escape. He 
lost his vessel and cargo; and it is little to the credit of the government 
that it never made up to him the loss. The British changed the name of 
the vessel to the "The Little Belt.'' It was one of the vessels captured 
by Commodore Perry, in the battle of Lake Erie. 

The family of Oliver Williams, including Gardner D., arrived at Detroit 
November 5, 1815, where they continued to reside until 1819. At that 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 351 

but, when he started to return to the fort, the guards proposed to 
make him prisoner. Taking a pistol in each hand, and demand- 
ing permission to return, he faced the guards, and, followed by 
his men, walked backwards till beyond their reach, when he 
returned, without molestation, to the fort. But Lieutenant Hanks 
did not have to wait for the return of Darrow, to learn the state 
of affairs below, for the sharp report of a British gun soon told 
him all. The report had scarcely died away, when a British 
officer, with flag in hand, appeared and demanded a surrender, 
emphasizing the demand by a statement of the overwhelming 
numbers of the invading army, and a threat of indiscriminate 
slaughter by the savages at the first motion towards resistance. 

When the inhabitants of the town had been gathered under 
guard at the distillery, Messrs. Davenport, Abbot, Bostwick, 
Stone and Dousman, who were among the leading citizens, were 
advised to go at once to the landing, and give themselves up to 
Colonel Dickinson, w^ho had been left at that point by Captain 
Roberts, for that purpose. This they accordingly did. They 
were then urged by Colonel Dickinson to petition Lieutenant 

time, they removed to Silver Lake, in Oakland county, being among the 
first to settle in that now populous and thriving county. 

In 1827, Judge Williams, accompanying his brother Ephraim L., went 
to Saginaw and engaged, for the American Fur Company, in the fur 
trade. Here he continued to reside until his death, December 10, 1858. 

During his eventful life, he held several important offices. He was a 
member of the first convention to form a constitution for the State of 
Michigan. He was successivelj' a member of each branch of the State 
legislature, commissioner of internal improvements, county judge, and 
treasurer of Saginaw county. He was the first mayor of the city of 
Saginaw, and held that office at the time of his decease. 

He was no ordinary man. Though deprived of opportunities in youth 
for education, yet by native force of character he was equal to the 
requirements of all the positions he was called to occupy. He had broad 
views of public affairs, and enjoyed the full confidence of his fellow 
citizens. He was eminently honest, kind and genial. He was married 
in 1829, and left three sons surviving him, who, continuing the lumber- 
ing business established by the father, and in which he was a pioneer, 
have amassed liberal fortunes. They are respected socially, and classed 
among the best citizens of the Saginaw valley. 



352 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Hanks to surrender the fort at once, stating that the Indians 
would be entirely unmanageable in case there should be any 
resistance. This they did promptly. Lieutenant Hanks' position 
can now be easily imagined. Not having received intelligence 
of the declaration of war, he was wholly off his guard, and unpre- 
pared to defend himself. The British troops, though less in num- 
bers than the garrison under his command, had a position which 
commanded the fort, and were supported by nearly a thousand 
Indian warriors, who had been instructed to show no mercy, in 
case that any resistance was made. Under these circumstances, 
Lieutenant Hanks surrendered the fort at once, and his men were 
paroled and sent to Detroit. 

Some have censured Lieutenant Hanks for his precipitate sur- 
render ; but, when it is considered that the first act of resistance 
would have been the signal for an indiscriminate massacre of the 
garrison, the justice of such censures may well be questioned. 

After the surrender, the citizens were assembled at the Govern- 
ment House, and the oath of allegiance to the British Crown 
administered to them. They were generally willing to take the 
oath, but Messrs. Davenport, Bostwick, Stone, Abbot and Dous- 
man refused to turn traitors. These men were immediately sent 
away with the soldiers, and were not permitted to return till after 
the declaration of peace. Captain Roberts and his men were 
highly complimented by the British government, and richly 
rewarded, for thus surprising and capturing the fort. Prize 
money, to the amount of ten thousand dollars, was distributed 
among the volunteers and soldiers, and merchandise and arms 
given to the Indians. 

Having thus easily and cheaply succeeded in wresting from the 
American people one of their most important military positions, 
the English at once set about strengthening themselves in their 
new possession. Fearing that they would not be able to hold 
what they had so easily gained, they hastened to construct a forti- 
fication on the crowning point of the island, which, in honor of 
their reigning sovereign, they called Fort George. The remains 
of the old fort, afterwards called Fort Holmes, may still be seen. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



General Hull's Cowardice — He Evacuates Canada — Alleged 
Treason — A Detachment Sent to Meet Colonel Brush — The 
Fort Surrendered to the British — Indignation of the Army 
— Colonel Brush Escapes — Detroit Again Under the British 
Flag. 

We will now return to General Hull's army, at Sandwich, 
Canada. Here the troops quartered for four weeks, during which 
time a detachment, under the command of Colonel McArthur, 
marched up the Thames river, and returned with large supplies 
of flour, wheat, beef, cattle, and about a thousand sheep. The 
latter were all sent over the river, and Avere permitted to range at 
large upon the extensive common back of the fort, where they 
remained until after the surrender of the army, when they were 
killed by Indians, and the meat appropriated to their use. A 
reconnoissance in force, under Colonels McArthur and Cass, 
marched to the vicinity of Maiden, where they dislodged a picket- 
guard, posted at the bridge over the Canard river, fourteen miles 
from camp, and four miles above Maiden. 

Another reconnoissance, by the Light Infantry and a small 
detachment of the Fourth U. S. Regiment, commanded by Cap- 
tain Snelling, was made about the twentieth of July, by which it 
was ascertained that the enemy had withdrawn his outpost at the 
Canard bridge, and had stationed a vessel, named the Queen Char- 
lotte, ofi" and near the mouth of the Canard river, in a position 
of observation. A plan was formed by these officers and others 
to construct some floating batteries, place a twenty-four pound gun 
upon each, and, with the addition of a few gunners and sailors 
then in Detroit, to descend along the shore of the river on the 
first dark night, and capture the Queen Charlotte. This project 
met with a refusal at headquarters, and all that could be obtained 
23 



854 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

was a permission to make a further reconnoissance, and ascertain 
the exact position of the vessel. In making this reconnoissance, 
it was intended, if possible, to carry her by boarding, but the 
attempt, for the want of the batteries and sailors, and owing to 
the night brightening after twelve o'clock, did not succeed. 

At this time, the British had posted a small Indian force on 
the line of communication between Detroit and Ohio, and had 
captured a bearer of dispatches from headquarters, as well as 
private correspondence, which of course were taken to Maiden. 
General Hull, therefore, ordered Major Vanhorne, of the Second 
Regiment of Volunteers, with two companies of infantry, a part 
of a company of volunteer cavalry, together with a part of a rifle 
company, to escort the mail and dispatches, as well as a few gen- 
tlemen, belonging to the commissary department, returning to 
Ohio. He proceeded down the same road the army had marched 
up on its approach to Detroit, and, on reaching a point nearly 
opposite Maiden, about the center of Grosse Isle, was attacked, 
and, after the loss of many brave men and officers, compelled to 
retreat back to the fort. This, together with the reception at 
headquarters of the news that Fort Mackinaw had been captured 
by Roberts, seemed to have shocked the commanding general, 
and to have divested him of all control over his fears. 

From the twentieth of July, the army was in hourly expecta- 
tion of orders to march on Maiden. The enemy's weakness was 
well known, and it is believed that the English would have made 
but a small resistance. But time passed on, and no such orders 
were given. On the evening of the seventh of August, march- 
ing orders were given. At eleven o'clock, tents were struck and 
loaded, and the wagon train was moving ; but, instead of moving 
down the road, in the direction of the enemy, it was driven to the 
landing, and taken by ferry-boats across the river, and stationed 
on the common, north of the fort. Orders were issued during 
the night to break up camp, and the army recrossed to Detroit. 
This act created astonishment and indignation among the soldiers, 
and it was freely whispered that General Hull had disgraced him- 
self and the army. 

This act of Hull's is the more astonishing, when we consider 



356 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

that the enemy's force was known to him to be slight, and hourly 
becoming weaker. It had already been reduced by desertion 
from six hundred and sixty Canadian militia to one hundred and 
sixty ; from one hundred Indians, under Tecumseh, to sixty, and 
having but two hundred and twenty-five regulars. It was also 
known to Hull that the British officers had already sent their 
most valuable effects on board their vessels in the port, prepara- 
tory to a precipitate evacuation of the post. Such were the forces, 
and such the condition of the British. Now let us see what was 
the strength of the American army. According to the official 
report of the Brigade Major, acting as Adjutant-General of the 
army, the forces numbered 2,300 effective men, well supplied with 
artillery, independent of the guns of the fort and advanced bat- 
teries. As we have already seen, there was an abundance of pro- 
visions, and nothing was wanting to secure the most favorable 
action of the troops. But, with this superiority of numbers, with 
the enemy already defeated with alarm. General Hull ingloriously 
surrenders Detroit and his whole army to a handful of English ! 

But we shall see more particularly how this was done. On the 
ninth of August a strong detachment was marched down the road, 
with orders to attack the enemy, who had crossed from Maiden 
in force, and taken up a position nearly opposite the center of 
Grosse Isle, cutting off the road of communication with Ohio. 
The detachment reached them at three o'clock in the afternoon, 
and immediately charged upon their lines, and drove them three 
miles to their boats, when, as it had become dark and was rain- 
ing, the most of them escaped to Maiden. In this action, some 
say that the forces were about equal ; but it is probable that the 
Americans had the strongest force. The British brought into the 
field a large part of their regulars, together with all the Indian 
contingent, the whole being under the command -of Major Muir. 
The following day, the American detachment, after sending for- 
ward the mails and dispatches, returned to the fort. The Ameri- 
cans lost sixty-eight men in the battle ; the English loss was 
somewhat less. This action is known as the Battle of Browns- 
town. 

This fight developed the fact that a largely increased Indian 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



357 



force had joined the standard of Tecumseh, who had circulated 
the news of the fall of Mackinaw among the tribes, and sum- 
moned them to him with promises of plunder. Instead of sixty 
men under his command, he had now nearly six hundred ; and, 




COL. WM. L. P. LITTLE. 

William L. P. Little, one of the earliest pioneers of the Saginaw 
valley, was born in Avon, Livingston county, New York, Novem- 
ber 26, 1814. 

He was the second son of Dr. Charles Little, who made the first entry 
of government lands on the Saginaw river, which entry comprised a 
large portion of the territory now included in the corporation limits of 
East Saginaw. 

His son, the subject of this sketch, received a common school educa- 



358 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

by the sixteenth, seven hundred warriors had joined him, who, 
as a body of savages, were probably never equaled for bravery. 

" A suspicion, strongly grounded and deeply felt, on the part 
of the most active and intelligent of the volunteers," says Col. W. 
S. Hatch, " had now risen to such a point, that there was no 
longer any confidence reposed in the valor or patriotism of the 
commanding general. A consultation was held, and it was 
decided to get up a ' Round Robin' — a written document, signed 
by names in a ring or circle, so as not to show who signed it first 
— addressed to the colonels of the Ohio volunteers, requesting the 
arrest or displacement of the general, and devolving the command 
on the eldest of the colonels, McArthur." This was on the 
twelfth of August, and on the following day it was reported that 
an armistice, or, at least, a temporary cessation of hostilities, had 
been agreed upon by the British authorities and the American 
armies on the Niagara and northern frontier ; and that Major- 
General Brock, Governor of Upper Canada, an officer of high 
reputation, had arrived at Maiden, to conduct operations in that 
quarter. 

"The suspicion and distrust of the army," says Colonel Hatch, 

tion in the State of New York, and in early life developed to a remark- 
able degree that indomitable energy, rare financial capacity — 

" iron win, 

With axe-like edge, unturnable," 

and mathematical exactness in matters of business, which were his 
distinguishing characteristics throughout a long and ever crowded active 
business life. 

Mr. Little settled in Saginaw in 1836, and shortly afterwards was 
appointed a colonel in the State militia. He went into the employ of the 
Saginaw City Improvement Company in that year and remained with 
them until 1840, when he commenced mercantile business with his 
brother-in-law, Hiram L. Miller. 

In 1851, he removed to East Saginaw, and entered into partnership 
with Jesse Hoyt, in general merchandising. Their establishment being 
consumed by fire on the .5th of July, 1854, they closed up their business. 

In November, 1855, Colonel Little opened the banking office of W. L. 
P. Little & Co., in the then village of East Saginaw, and managed its 
afTairs without tlie least aid from a cashier, teller, book-keeper, clerk or 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 359 

" was increased by General Hull's peremptory refusal to allow 
that distinguished officer, Captain (afterwards Colonel) Snelling, 
to cross the river in the night, to carry and destroy an unfinished 
battery, which was being constructed on the opposite bank, under 
the direction of Captain Dixon, of the Royal Artillery. This 
was the only battery of any consequence established by the 
enemy, and the only one that injured the Americans. It opened 
on the afternoon of the fifteenth, and continued its cannonade 
during the morning of the sixteenth, when one of its balls struck, 
and instantly killed. Lieutenant Hanks, who had been in com- 
mand at Mackinaw." The same ball passed on and mortally 
wounded Surgeon Reynolds, of the Third Regiment of Volun- 
teers. 

On Thursday, August thirteenth, it was absolutely necessary 
that the greatest vigilance should be maintained, and that the 
outlying pickets should be largely increased. At eleven o'clock 
of this evening a boat was discovered approaching the fort from 
the Canadian side of the river, and, as it neared the shore, two 
men were noticed sitting aft, and two more at the oars. On being 
challenged, the boat came up, and one of the gentlemen gave the 
countersign. " He was well known, and known to have the con- 
messenger, for one year. This was the first banking house on the Saginaw 
river. At the expiration of that time, Mr. James F. Brown, the present 
president of the Merchants' National Bank of East Saginaw, entei'ed into 
the employ of the firm, and together they conducted the business for 
three years, when other help was required, and Mr. Douglass Hoyt was 
made assistant cashier. From this time, the business of the firm rapidly 
increased, and, on January 1st, 1806, it opened as the Merchants' National 
Bank of East Saginaw, with Colonel Little as its president; James F. 
Brown, cashier, and Douglass Hoyt, assistant cashier. Aside from 
Colonel Little's banking business, he was largely engaged in real estate 
and general commercial transactions. He was also largely interested in 
the development of the salt interest, and was one of the heaviest dealers 
and manufacturers of lumber in the Saginaw valley. Every local 
improvement, both of a public and private nature, secured his influence 
and aid. 

At the first charter election of the city of East Saginaw, held in March, 
1859, Colonel Little was elected to the mayoralty by a handsome major- 
ity, notwithstanding that the Democratic party, with which he always 



360 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

fidence of the commanding general more than any other officer," 
says the same authority, already quoted, " and, in almost every 
instance, had been intrusted with the duty of intercourse by flag 
with the enemy. The other gentleman appeared, as near as could 
be judged by the dim light, to be young, well formed, and of mili- 
tary bearing. They directed their steps to the headquarters of the 
commanding general, remaining there three hours. They then 
returned to the boat, and crossed to the Canadian shore. The 
boat came back ; but one of the gentlemen only was with her. 
He gave the word, and passed on. At that time, on that night, 
the capitulation of the fort and the surrender of the northwestern 
army was agreed upon. The jDarties to that agreement were 
General Hull, and, on the part of the British, Major Glegg, one 
of the aids-de-camp of General Brock." 

Colonel Hatch further substantiates his views as follows : " This 
is a historic fact, which Major Glegg, if alive, will corroborate, as, 
after the war, in 1815, at a hotel in Philadelphia, he communi- 
cated his participation in the act, as above stated, to the late 
Quartermaster-General of the northwestern army, General James 
Taylor, of Newport, Kentucky." 

Previous to this time, a reinforcement of two hundred and 

acted, was then in the minorit}'' in the city. The duties of this position 
he discharged with zeal and fidelity. 

Under President Buchanan's administration, he held the position of 
receiver of the United States land oflice, Moses B. Hess being the 
register, and it was mainly through the efforts of these gentlemen that 
the transfer of that oflBce from Flint to East Saginaw was effected. 

Just past the meridian of life, in full possession of every comfort and 
luxury wealth could bestow — tlie result of years of unremitting toil — 
surrounded by associates ever ready to yield an unquestioning assent to 
the suggestions of his ripe judgment and experience; happy to all appear- 
ance in the possession of an attractive home, an affectionate family and 
a devoted circle of relatives and friends; a fearful malady seized his 
over-worked brain — filled for the time with clouds and shadows — and in 
an instant of temporary hallucination of mind, that terrible energy of 
character which had so often before seemingly wrought miracles in his 
behalf, was turned to the horrid work of self-destruction. This tragical 
event occurred on Monday, the !)th of December, 1867, and his funeral 
was conducted by the Masonic fraternity on the following Wednesday. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 361 

thirty men, under the command of Colonel Henry Brush, of Chilli- 
cothe, Ohio, conveying supplies, including one hundred head of cat- 
tle, had arrived at the little French settlement at the crossing of the 
River Raisin, thirty-five miles from the fort. Here they halted, 




BRADFORD SMITH. 

Bkadford Smith was born at Moira, Franklin county, New York, on 
the 15th of November, 1820. 

He is a lineal descendant of William Bradford, of "Mayflower" 
memory, who was for thirty years Governor of Plymouth Colony. 

He is a graduate of St. Lawrence Academy, and was connected with 
Oberlin College, in the capacity of pupil and teacher, for four years, 
receiving the degree of A. M. from that institution in 1870. As early as 
1853, he moved to Detroit, where he has ever since resided. 



362 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

in consequence of the threatening attitude of the enemy, and 
reported to the commanding general, who issued orders on the 
afternoon of Friday, the fourteenth of August, for a detachment 
of about three hundred and sixty men, under command of the 
colonels of the First and Third Kegiments of Ohio Volunteers, 
to march at twilight on the line of a circuitous route or trail, 
which passed by the River Rouge, several miles above its mouth, 
and continued far into the interior, passing the Huron, and 
striking the Raisin, and passing down that stream to French- 
town. Accompanying the order was the information that Colonel 
Brush had been ordered to move from his camp up this route, 
and would doubtless be met between the Rouge and the Huron, 
and at a distance not exceeding twelve miles from the fort ; but 
the detachment was to continue its march till he was met. 

" The officers of the detachment," says Colonel Hatch, " believ- 
ing that they would meet Colonel Brush and party, and return 
with it to Detroit by two or three o'clock A. m. ; and, desiring 
the troops to march light and rapid, directed that no food or bag- 
gage be taken along, not even their blankets, nor would they 
remain for supper. This order, at the time, excited no particular 
suspicion. The course adopted was attributed to timidity, over- 

Since his removal to Detroit, he has had much to do with the educa- 
tional interests of the city. Fifteen years of his life have been devoted to 
teaching. Eight years of this time, he was principal of what is now 
known as the Houghton school, and superintendent of the schools 
connected therewith. He has also been a member of the board of 
managers of the Young Men's Christian Association, and was president 
of that society for two years. He was also chairman of the employment 
committee of the Young Men's Christian Association, and as such has 
proved a most useful member of Society. Hundreds of j'oung men 
acknowledge their indebtedness to him for their first start in life. No 
worthy young man ever appealed to him in vain for reasonable aid, or 
assistance to obtain employment. He takes a livelj^ interest in all public 
improvements of the city and State of his adoption, particularly those 
which tend to render them beautiful, healthful and attractive. But his 
chief delight is in improvements of an intellectual, moral and religious 
character, especially such as promote the culture of the young. He 
believes in education, sanctified by the spirit of truth, free from all sec- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 363 

ruling sagacious and prompt military conduct on the part of the 
commanding general. But here all were deceived, as no order 
had been sent to Colonel Brush to move in the direction stated, 
or to move at all. The sole object of the movement was to 
reduce the active force at the fort, preliminary to carrying into 
effect the capitulation which had already been agreed upon, to 
get rid of a large number of officers and men known to be keenly 
sensitive to an honorable success, and had been openly hostile to 
the inaction of the army when in Canada, and to the recrossing 
the river ; and who, if present, would have resisted, to the extrem- 
est point, regardless of all or any consequences, any attempt to 
surrender the fort or the army." 

The detachment left the fort at dusk, and entered the woods 
just in rear of the common. They continued their march until 
thirty-five miles from Detroit, when, ascertaining that Colonel 
Brush had not started from his camp, they returned. As they 
neared the fort a brisk cannonading was heard, from which it was 
supposed that the enemy had crossed the river below the town, 
and made an attack on the fort. " If the firing had continued 
until the detachment had reached the little settlement on 
the River Rouge," says the same authority, " it would have 

tarian bias. He is ever found, as time will allow, in the various schools 
of the city, cheering the teachers in their noble vocation, and inspiring 
the pupils by words of counsel and encouragement. On the Sabbath, he 
is in the Bible class, " studying," as he says, " the Book." He is also one 
of the board of trustees of the Mayberry avenue mission — now the 
Calvaiy Presbyterian Church. 

As a business man, he is ever prompt, reliable and efficient, carrying 
into his every day transactions the principles of morality and Christi- 
anity, which form the guiding star of his existence. His benevolence is 
only bounded by his ability to give relief to the needy or assistance to 
works of charity. It is not too much to say that, in proportion to his 
'means, he gives in charity as much as any other man in Detroit. 

He never aspired to political honors, rather choosing to be the means 
of doing good, and assisting others, in the private walks of life. In the 
fall of 1878, however, he was nominated for mayor of Detroit, on the 
Prohibition ticket, but, at his own earnest solicitation, his name was 
withdrawn. 



364 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

entered by the Springwells road, and have come in on the left 
flank and rear of the enemy ; and, doubtless, as we believed, 
would have captured the entire of the British forces, as they 
would have been between the fires of our volunteers in front 
of the fort, and ours in their rear. Entertaining these exhilarat- 
ing hopes, although without food for so long a time, the troops 
composing this detachment, without exception, appeared stimu- 
lated by the anticipated and hoped for conflict. With these high 
and cheering expectations, they not only marched in double-quick 
time, but actually kept up with the slow trot of the horses for at 
least twenty miles, when the cannonading ceased. We resumed 
this unusual march, and, without once halting until we arrived, 
at about midnight, at the edge of the woods which we had entered 
the night before ; when to our utter astonishment and indigna- 
tion, we beheld the British flag floating from the flag-stafi" of the 
fort, and the Indians in the extensive common before us, taking 
horses and cattle." 

The fort of Detroit and the northwestern army had been sur- 
rendered. The detachment that we have just followed was also 
included, as well as that under Colonel Brush, at the Raisin. 
Colonel Brush, however, decided that he would not be surren- 
dered. He detained the British flag, sent to inform him of the 
capitulation, only long enough to obtain supplies for his soldiers, 
and the whole force was then started for Ohio, which they 
reached in safety. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



The British Celebkating their Success at Detroit — Account of 
General, Brock's Expedition against Detroit — Scenes and Cir- 
cumstances IN AND ABOUT DETROIT AFTER THE SURRENDER — TnE 

Massacre at Chicago — Commodore Perry on Lake Erie— Har- 
rison's Campaign — Recapture of the Western Posts, including 
Detroit, by the United States. 

On the 17th day of August, at noon, the British celebrated 
their success by firing a salute. General Brock and his aids appear- 
ing in full dress. They used on this occasion one of the brass 
six-pounders belonging to the fort, which had been taken at the 
great revolutionary triumph at Saratoga, on the IGth of October, 
1777, which was recorded on it in raised letters of brass. The 
salute was responded to by the Queen Charlotte, which came 
sweeping up the centre of the river, replying to each discharge. 
This same brass field piece came again into the possession of the 
Americans at the battle of the Thames. 

Let us now return and follow General Brock through the short 
campaign. He arrived at or near Maiden on the 12th of August, 
where he found everything looking prosperous for the English 
cause. General Hull had already broken up his camp, and 
recrossed the river on the night of the 7th and morning of the 
8th. He also received, at the same time, the additional and most 
gratifying intelligence, obtained from intercepted dispatches, that 
General Hull had, at a council of war, held prior to this date, 
spoken of the probability of his having to capitulate at no dis- 
tant day. 

On the thirteenth he reconnoitered the position of his enemy ; 
and receiving, whilst at the little village of Sandwich, a flag from 
General Hull, with some excuses as to the burning of a house 
in the afternoon after his evacuation of Canada, detained the flag 
until late at night, and then dispatched his aid. Major Glegg, with 



366 GEITERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the return flag to General Hull, demanding a surrender of the 
fort and army in the following language : " Sir, the forces at my 
disposal authorize me to require of you the immediate surrender 
of Fort Detroit. It is far from my inclination to join in a war 
of extermination ; but you must be aware that the numerous 
body of Indians, who have attached themselves to my troops, will 
be beyond my control the moment the contest commences." 

On the fifteenth. General Brock established his headquarters 
at Sandwich, and made his arrangements for crossing the river. 
On the sixteenth, he crossed the river, formed in column, and 
marched up to within one mile of the fort, and halted. His 
Indian force, organized and led by Tecumseh, under the command 
of Colonel Elliott and Captain McKee, landed one mile below, 
and moved up in the edge of the woods west of the common, 
keeping a mile and a half distant. The strength of his force, 
according to his report to Lieutenant-General Prevost, was as 
follows : Royal Artillery, 30 men ; Forty-first Regiment, 250 ; 
Royal Newfoundland Regiment, 50 ; militia, 400 ; and about 600 
Indians — making a total force of 1,330 men, with three six- 
pounders and two three-pounders. 

We will now read the reply of General Hull to General 
Brock's demand for the surrender of the fort : " I have no 
other reply to make than to inform you that I am prepared to 
meet any force which may be at your disposal, and any conse- 
quences which may result from any exertion of it you may think 
proper to make," etc. This bold reply contrasts strangely with 
his act of the following morning, when he invited the enemy to 
receive his surrender of the fort and army, without even firing 
a gun. 

There is a mystery surrounding this surrender. If we say it 
was brought about through cowardice, how shall w^e explain away 
the sending out of the detachment to meet Colonel Brush ? 
General Hull is chargeable with cowardice or treason. The 
reader must judge for himself between these two ofienses, or say 
that it w^as probably both. 

General Brock lost no time in returning to the Niagara fron- 
tier. Paroling the volunteers not to serve until exchanged, fur- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



367 



nishiDg them with boats and vessels to pass the lake to Cleveland, 
sending General Hull and the regular troops to Montreal, and 
his militia to their homes, issuing his proclamation to the inhabit- 
ants of his conquered territory, and leaving Colonel Proctor in 




SPENCER BARCLAY. 

Spencer Barclay, one of the most extensive business men in Michi- 
gan, was born in Lyons, Wayne county, New York, on the 22d of June, 
1835. In that State, he carried on the meat pacliing business for four 
years, tlien changing, he commenced as a mercliant, in which occupation 
he remained seven years. 

Mr. Barclay emigrated to Michigan in 1855, settling in Grand Rapids 
during September of that year. He at once started in the mercantile 
trade, which he followed for three years with a somewhat varied success. 
Afterwards, he removed to Ionia, where for the same length of time he 



868 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

commaud, he went on board the Queen Charlotte, and on the 
next day, the eighteenth, sailed down the lake, stopping at Fort 
Erie and Fort George, arriving in triumph, on the twenty-second, 
at his seat of goverment, which he had left on the fifth. 

In this short period of twelve days he had moved two hundred 
and fifty miles against his enemy, efiected a surrender of a strong 
fort an-d well equipped army of 2,300 efiective men, and one of 
the territories of the United States. 

A provisional government was established by the British at 
Detroit, and a small force placed in the fort. The Indians, who 
were numerous, and claimed large rewards for their cooperation, 
and who were but slightly, if at all restrained by the garrison, 
carried plunder and devastation into almost every house, and 
through almost every farm in the Territory. The miserable 
inhabitants had no alternative but to submit, or incur the hazard 
of more aggravated outrage. Most of the citizens of Detroit were 
sent into exile, and distress and ruin appeared to be the inevitable 
lot of all. 

Contemporaneously with these events on the eastern side of the 
peninsula of Michigan, another disaster, rendered memorable by 
the folly which led to it and the blood which accompanied it, 
occurred on the western side, under the walls of Chicago. While 
yet in Canada, General Hull, actuated, no doubt, by the aj^pre- 
hensious which made him regard all things under his control with 
trembling anxiety, sent orders to Captain Heald, who commanded 
at Chicago, to evacuate that post, and retreat to Fort Wayne. 
Every order of this unfortunate general appeared to be pregnant 
with misfortune. That which was issued at this time to Captain 
Heald, involved a garrison, which had ample means of defense at 
its post, in disgrace and blood. 

was again engaged in the packing business. From here, he moved to 
East. Saginaw in 1862, and commenced the same business that he followed 
in the latter place, having only $900 as a capital. However, he went to 
work with renewed zeal and a determination to succeed, and success has 
nobly crowned his efforts, as he is now doing a business of from $75,000 
to $100,000 per year, which is the result of an undivided and earnest 
attention to business, aided by a keen penetration and a sound judgment. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



369 



The order for evacuation was received on the ninth of August. 
Captain Wells, of the Indian department, who, with a few faithful 
Miamis, was to guide the retreat, mistrusting the fidelity of the 
Pottawattamies, recommended an immediate evacuation, before 




HON. T. J. CAMPAU. 

Theodore J. Cajipau, the fifth son of the late Joseph Campau, was 
born in Detroit. 

On his return from college at Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1846, he entered 
his father's office and remained there sixteen years. He was a young 
man of energy and good business habits, possessing the entire confidence 
of his father. Having had the advantage of sixteen years' experience in 
the management of the estate during his father's life-time, it made him 
familiar with all the details of it, every house being described in his rent 
books. The antecedents, recommendations and disadvantages of his 
24 



370 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

that tribe should have time to concentrate around the fort. His 
recommendation was disregarded, and, in a short time, more than 
four hundred of them had collected in the neighborhood. In 
order to secure their forbearance, a promise was made to them 
that all of the surplus stores should be left at their disposal. 
Captain Heald prudently foresaw that large quantities of whisky 
and powder, such as were then on hand, might be dangerous 
gifts to the Indians, and resolved to destroy clandestinely as much 
of them as possible before the evacuation. He, accordingly, 
during the nights when the Indians were not present, threw most 
of the powder into a well, and wasted a greater part of the 
whisky. The Indians are said to have obtained some intima- 
tion or knowledge of these nocturnal transactions ; and, regarding 
them as an infringement on their rights, may have then conceived 
the plan of vengeance which they afterwards so fearfully exe- 
cuted. After the Pottawattamies had assembled in such num- 
bers, both Captain Wells and Mr. Kenzie (who was an Indian 
agent at the place, and knew well the character and feelings 
of these Indians) represented to Captain Heald that a retreat 
would then be unsafe. But their representations had no effect. 
He had neglected to make it at a time when no obstacles were 
in the way, and by delaying, in order to destroy the surplus 

tenants were always entered with a full description of the property 
rented. The labor of doing this was immense, but the system was com- 
plete and the information needed always on hand. Every lease granted 
by him and every receipt taken is regularly indorsed and alphabetically 
filed away for each year. 

He continues to occupy the old homestead, 140 Jefferson avenue, as 
his office, it being one of the parcels allotted to him as his share of his 
father's estate. 

Mr. Campau has held many positions of trust and honor, being a mem- 
ber of the State legislature for two years. He was appointed to the 
Democratic national convention, held at Chicago on the 2J)th of August, 
1864, which nominated General George B. McClellan for the presidency. 
He once received and declined the nomination for school inspector of his 
ward in the city of Detroit, and, in 1862, was twice nominated alderman 
of his ward, but declined each time. In 186:3, he received the nomina- 
tion for mayor of Detroit, and withdrew in favor of K. C. Barker, who 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 371 

whisky and ammunition, had deprived himself of the means 
of remaining, when it had become prudent and proper to do so. 

On the fifteenth of August, the garrison, consisting of fifty-four 
regular troops and twelve militia -men, together with several 
families, evacuated the fort. When about a mile on its march, 
Captain Heald observed that the Indians were preparing for an 
attack, and made dispositions for defense. A short conflict 
ensued, in which about one-half of the garrison, and some women 
and children, were killed, when Captain Heald surrendered. The 
fort was burnt by the Indians the next morning, and the prison- 
ers were distributed among the bands. 

The most distinguished victim of this short and sanguinary 
action was Captain Wells. In his chagrin and despondency at 
the fate which the willfulness and blindness of Captain Heald 
was bringing upon the whole retreating party, he had, according 
to the custom of the savages under such feelings, blackened his 
face, and was thus found among the slain. We have already 
alluded to his services and gallantry in General Wayne's cam- 
paign. His singular and eventful life, the energy and boldness 
of his character, entitle him to a passing notice. He was, while 
a child, captured by the Indians, and became the adopted son 
of Little Turtle, the most eminent forest warrior and statesman 

was elected by an overwlielming majority. He was chairman of the 
Democratic city convention in 1863, and again in 1865. In 1864, he was 
appointed administrator of his father's estate; he was elected chairman 
of the second senatorial district Democratic committee in 1864 and 1866, 
and chairman of the first congressional Democratic committee four years 
— from 1866 to 1870. In 1864, and again in 1866, he was nominated to 
the oflSce of State senator, but declined the honor. He was appointed, 
in 1871, a commissioner of the plan of the city of Detroit, and also one 
of the committee on the location of the Detroit park. 

Very manj^ of our past and present prominent men owe their position 
to Mr. Campau. He is considered one of the most influential men of the 
Democratic party in Detroit, as well as a leading spirit among its mem- 
bers. Mr. Campau is a prudent, sagacious and trustworthy gentleman, 
and a true Democrat. In social life, he is modest and unassuming; 
charitable to a fault, punctual to his engagements, but in business an 
autocrat in bearing. 



372 GiENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

of his time. In the defeats of Harmer, on St, Clair, he took a 
distinguished part, commanding, in the latter action, three hun- 
dred young warriors, who were posted immediately in front of the 
artillery, and caused much carnage among those who served the 
pieces. 

After this sanguinary affair, his forecast led him to anticipate 
the final ascendency of the whites, who would be roused by these 
reverses to such exertions as must be successful, with their pre- 
ponderance of power ; and he resolved to abandon the savages. 
His mode of announcing this determination was in accordance 
with the simple and sententious habits of a forest life. He was 
traversing the woods in the morning, with his adopted father, 
Little Turtle, when, pointing to the heavens, he said : " When 
the sun reaches the meridian, I leave you for the whites ; and, 
wherever you meet me, in battle, you must kill me, as I shall 
endeavor to do the same with you." The bonds of affection and 
respect which had bound these two singular and highly gifted 
men together were not severed or weakened by this abrupt declar- 
ation. Captain Wells soon after joined Wayne's army ; and, by 
his intimacy with the wilderness, his perfect knowledge of the 
Indians' haunts, habits, and modes of warfare, became an invalu- 
able auxiliary to the Americans. He served faithfully and fought 
bravely through the campaign; and, at the close, when peace 
had restored amity between the Indians and the whites, rejoined 
his foster-father, Little Turtle, and their friendship and connec- 
tion was broken only by the death of the latter. When his body 
was found among the slain, at Chicago, the Indians are said to 
have drunk his blood, from a superstitious belief that they should 
thus imbibe his warlike endowments, which had been considered 
by them as preeminent. 

During the fall and winter succeeding these events. General 
Harrison had been collecting an army, for the purpose of recover- 
ing the northwestern frontier. Having advanced as far as San- 
dusky, he detached General Winchester, in advance, to the 
Maumee. General Winchester sent forward a foraging party as 
far as the River Raisin, which reached that place on the eighteenth 
of January, 1813, and dislodged a body of Indians found there. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



373 



The next day, General Winchester, with his main body, joined 
this advance, having a force of about one thousand men. He 
encamped on the left bank of the river; but, although fore- 
warned of the approach of a hostile party from Maiden, it does 




HON. T. J. CAMPAU'S RESIDENCE. 

The above illustration of Mr. Campau's residence shows that he lives 
in a style becoming his wealth and position. His brick mansion, situated 
at 500 Jefferson avenue, was erected by himself in 1869, and is furnished 
in princely style. The stables, which contain a fine assortment of 



374 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

not appear that lie made any disposition of his troops to meet the 
emergency. On the twenty-second, early in the morning, his 
camp was attacked by the British and Indians. Portions of the 
line defended themselves with obstinacy and success, particularly 
the left, under Major Madison. General Winchester himself 
had taken lodgings on the opposite side of the river, at some dis- 
tance from the scene of action ; and it is said that he was cap- 
tured before he joined his troops. Being without any general 
direction, the line, with the exception before mentioned, soon fell 
into confusion and gave way, retreating across the river ; but the 
savages, who anticipated such a movement, were in readiness 
there to meet the fugitives, and few escaped the slaughter. Major 
Madison continued to defend himself, until informed by General 
Winchester — then a prisoner — that his party had been surren- 
dered. 

The bloody scene which followed this disastrous morning has 
given celebrity to the spot, far beyond the importance of this 
event. The massacre at the River Raisin will ever remain a san- 
guinary blot on the military fame of Great Britain. Most of the 
wounded were collected in one or two houses near the battle- 
ground. General Winchester, whose situation enabled him to 
observe the conduct and disposition of the savages, felt an appre- 
hension for the fate of those unfortunate sufferers, and frequently 
reminded General Proctor of his solemn engagements to protect 
them. Whether his comparatively small number of regular 
troops could not control the cannibal ferocity of his allies ; or, 
whether he looked on their bloody orgies without opposition or 
remonstrance, may be left undetermined by the charity of his- 
tory, as long as the proofs are at all questionable. There appears 
to be a dark shadow, suited to the blackness of the transaction, 
resting over it, and nothing, perhaps, is distinctly known, except- 

blooded horses, and which are the pride of Mr. Campau, are situated in 
the yard, and are a marvel of unrivaled convenience and comfort. The 
front part contains the carriage house, harness room, wash house and 
the coachman's room, and in the rear are the stables. His noted trot- 
ting horses are White Bird, Ida, Mary, Ned and Prince, each one being 
kept in a box stall. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 375 

ing the horrible result. Butchery and conflagration were at 
work through the night, and these unhappy victims, who trusted 
to the mercy or honor of the British character, were mostly, if 
not all, buried under a heap of smoldering ruins. 

This series of events, so unfortunate for the Americans, and so 
triumphant for the British, filled the inhabitants of Michigan 
with despondency. General Harrison's operations on the frontier 
of Ohio threw an occasional gleam on their dark fortunes. The 
signal triumph of Croghan, at Sandusky, and some of the events 
at Fort Meigs, showed that victory might still revisit the Ameri- 
can arms. These operations, however, had no immediate influ- 
ence on the condition of the Territory, until Perry's victory, on 
the tenth of September, 1813, opened a passage over the lake for 
the American forces. This brilliant and important naval action, 
which was so instrumental in restoring Michigan to the Union, 
deserves particular notice, as an essential part of her history. 

Commodore Perry's fleet had been built, under great disadvan- 
tages, at Erie, Pennsylvania. The bar at the mouth of the har- 
bor would not permit the vessels to pass out with their armament 
on board. For some time after the fleet was ready to sail, the 
British commodore continued to hover off" the harbor, well 
knowing it must either remain there inactive, or venture out with 
almost a certainty of defeat. During this blockade. Commodore 
Perry had no alternative but to ride at anchor at Erie. For- 
tunately, early in September, the enemy relaxed his vigilance, 
and withdrew to the upper end of the lake. Commodore Perry 
seized the opportune moment to pass the bar, and fit his vessels 
for action. This triumph over the vigilance of the British was a 
presage of the still greater triumph that followed. 

On the tenth of September, at sunrise, while at anchor at 
Put-in-Bay, Commodore Perry discovered the enemy towards the 
head of the lake. He immediately got under weigh, and, with a 
favoring wind, brought him to action a few minutes before noon. 
His flag vessel, the Lawrence, was engaged with the whole force 
of the enemy for nearly two hours before the wind permitted her 
consorts to join in close combat. She gallantly maintained the 
unequal fight, until all her rigging was cut to pieces, every gun 



376 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

rendered useless, and the greater part of her crew either killed or 
wounded. In this perilous condition, Commodore Perry adopted 
one of those bold, decisive resolutions which often enable a great 
commander to convert an apparent defeat into a certain victory. 
He caused his boat to be lowered, and launched himself and his 
fortunes upon the bosom of the lake, amid the showers of death 
that fell around him. Reaching the Niagara in safety, which was 
just coming into close action, with a swelling breeze, he at once 
determined to break tht-ough the enemy's fleet, already somewhat 
crippled by the contest with the Lawrence. The Niagara had 
every rope and spar, every gun and man untouched. She broke 
into the enemy's line, and, ranging by the vessels in succession, 
poured in her broadsides, compelling them, one by one, to lower 
their flags in token of submission, until they all were " ours." In 
achieving this decisive victory, the Niagara was assisted by the 
smaller vessels, which were brought into cooperation by Captain 
Elliott, who had volunteered in this service when Commodore 
Perry assumed command of his vessel. Not long after Commo- 
dore Perry boarded the Niagara, the Lawrence struck her colors. 
She was, however, but a fleeting trophy ; for, before she could be 
taken possession of, every British flag had followed her humiliat- 
ing example. 

This consummate victory oj^ened the lake to General Harrison, 
who, soon after, crossed his army to the Canadian shore, and, in 
the course of a short campaign, which was brilliantly finished 
by the battle of the Moravian towns, drove the enemy from the 
northwestern frontier. On the twenty-ninth of September, 1813, 
Detroit was occupied by a detachment of his army. An armis- 
tice was concluded with the Indians on the eighteenth of October 
following, thus restoring tranquillity and security to the Territory. 

General Harrison soon after moved down, with his main body, 
to the Niagara frontier, and left General Cass in command at 
Detroit. No military movements took place during the winter 
following, excepting an incursion into the interior of the upper 
province by Major Holmes, who was attacked near Stony Creek, 
and maintained his ground with great bravery and success. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



Mackinaw — Expedition Under Commodore Sinclair and Colonel 
Croghan for its Reduction — Colonel Turner Captures the 
Perseverance at St. Mary's, and Reduces that Post — Capture 
of the Mink — Destruction op Goods Belonging to the North- 
west Company — Landing op the Forces at Mackinaw— Fall op 
Major Holmes — Defeat of the Americans— Full Account of 
the Battle, Etc. 

So FAR as the Northwest was concerned, the war was now prac- 
tically closed, yet there was one post of great importance which 
had not been wrested from the English. That was Fort Macki- 
naw. Active steps were soon taken to dispossess the English of 
this stronghold, and drive them wholly from the American soil. 
Immediately after the battle of the Thames, an expedition to the 
upper lakes was contemplated ; but, unfortunately, it was pre- 
vented by the non-arrival of two schooners, which had been sent 
to Cleveland and Bass Islands for provisions. These vessels had 
arrived off Maiden, but a storm from the west drove them to the 
lower end of the lake, where they were stranded. Early in the 
following April, 1814, this expedition up Lake Huron was again 
proposed, the object being twofold — the capture of Fort Macki- 
naw, and the destruction of certain vessels, which it was said the 
English were building in Gloucester, or Matchadash Bay, at the 
southeast extremity of the lake. But this plan was also aban- 
doned ; partly from a want of men, partly from the belief that 
Great Britain did not, as had been supposed, intend to make an 
effort to regain the commerce of the upper lakes ; and partly, 
also, from a misunderstanding between General Harrison and 
Colonel Croghan, who commanded at Detroit, on the one hand, 
and the Secretary of War on the other. No sooner had this plan 
been abandoned than it was revived again, in consequence of new 
information of the establishment at Matchadash Bay. 



378 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Accordingly, orders were issued on the second day of June, 
and ample preparations were soon made. A squadron was fitted 
out, consisting of the United States sloops-of-war Niagara and 
Lawrence, carrying twenty guns each, with the smaller schooners, 
Caledonia, Scorpion, Tigress, Detroit, and others, and a land force 
of seven hundred and fifty men, placed on board. Commodore 
Sinclair was the naval commander, and Lieutenant -Colonel 
Croghan, a young man who had gallantly and successfully 
defended Sandusky during the early part of the war, had charge 
of the militia. 

The squadron reached Lake Huron on the twelfth of June, on 
its way to Matchadash Bay. Disappointment, however, awaited 
them. Every possible efl^brt was made to gain the desired bay 
and destroy the imaginary vessels there building, but in vain. No 
pilot could be found for that unfrequented part of the lake. 
Islands and sunken rocks were numerous, and threatened destruc- 
tion to the fleet. The lake was almost continually covered with 
a dense fog, and, from the time already consumed in the fruitless 
attempt, provisions were growing short, hence, that part of the 
work was abandoned, and the squadron proceeded to Mackinaw. 

When nearing the place of destination, a council was called, to 
decide whether they should proceed at once to the capture of Fort 
Mackinaw, or first repair to St. Joseph's, and destroy the enemy's 
works at that place. It was urged that an immediate attack upon 
the fort was policy, inasmuch as the English, having had no 
intimation of their approach, were, probably, without Indian 
allies, and unprepared to defend the island ; that, should they 
first proceed to St. Joseph's, time would thus be given the English 
to call in these savage auxiliaries, and so strengthen themselves, 
that, upon their return, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to 
take the place; but Sinclair thought that, by leaving a part 
of the squadron to cruise around the island during his absence, 
this could be prevented ; hence, in spite of salutary advice from 
those who knew the Indian character far better than themselves, 
it was agreed between the naval and military commanders to 
proceed at once to St. Joseph's. This was a fatal error, as will 
be seen in the sequel. 

/ 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



379 



On the twentieth of July, they arrived at St. Joseph's, and 
found the British establishment at that point deserted. This 
they burned, but left untouched the town and Northwest Com- 
pany's storehouses. While wind-bound at this point, Sinclair 




<mii'iiiuijiiiiif/rm"""' 



HON. ALFRED RUSSELL. 

Alfred Russkll, one of Detroit's most distinguished members of the 
bar, was born at Plymouth, Grafton county, New Hampshire, March 18, 
1830. Mr. Russell graduated at Dartmouth College in the class of 1850, 
and at the Dane law school of Harvard University in the class of 1852. 
He was admitted to the bar at Meredith Bridge, New Hampshire, Novem- 
ber, 1852, and emigrated to Michigan during the same month and settled 
in Detroit. Soon after his arrival in that city, he entered the law office 
of Hon. James F. Joy — studied law with that gentleman for a brief 



380 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

captured the Northwest Company's schooner, Mink, on her way 
from Mackinaw to St. Mary's, with a cargo of flour, and by this 
means received intelligence that the schooner Perseverance was 
lying above the Falls of St. Mary, at the foot of Lake Superior, 
in waiting to transport the Mink's cargo to Fort Williams. Upon 
the receipt of this intelligence, he dispatched Lieutenant Turner, 
an active and enterprising officer, to capture her, and, if possible, 
get her down the falls. Colonel Croghan dispatched Major 
Holmes, with a party of regulars, to cooperate in the expedition, 
in which the capture of St. Mary's was included. The following 
official report of Lieutenant Turner to Sinclair will give the 
reader a clear idea of what was effected by this movement. It is 
dated U. S. schooner Scorpion, off Michilimackinac, July 28th, 
1814: 

" Sir — I have the honor to inform you that, agreeably to your 
orders of the 22d instant, I proceeded on the expedition to Lake 
Superior, with the launches. I rowed night and day ; but, hav- 
ing a distance of sixty miles against a strong current, informa- 
tion had reached the enemy, at St. Mary's, of our approach, 
about two hours before I arrived at that place, carried by Indians, 
in their light canoes, several of whom I chased, and by firing on 
them, and killing some, prevented their purposes ; some I cap- 
tured and kept prisoners until my arrival; others escaped. The 
force under Major Holmes prevented anything like resistance at 

period as did he also with the Messrs. Walker. Mr. Russell was admitted 
to the bar of Michigan in 1853, and, in 1854, formed a partnership with 
the Messrs. Walker, which lasted until 1861. During that year, Mr. 
Russell was appointed United States district attorney for Michigan, by 
President Lincoln, and was reappointed by President Johnson in 1865. 
Mr. Russell was originally a Whig of the New England Federal party 
school, and acted with the Free Soilers during the existence of that 
party. Upon the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, he took a prom- 
inent part in the organization of the Republican party in Michigan, and 
has since been more or less closely identified with that organization. Mr. 
Russell is, however, a free thinker and an independent actor in politics. 
As a lawyer, he stands in the front rank of the profession, and is known 
throughout the State as an eminently useful citizen, and, in his social 
relations, as a polished gentleman. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



381 



the fort, the enemy, with their Indians, carrying with them all the 
light, valuable articles, peltry, clothes, etc. I proceeded across 
tlbe strait of Lake Superior without a moment's delay ; and, on 
my appearance, the enemy, finding they could not get ofi" with 




DR. J. W. KERMOTT. 

Among the numerous professional men represented in this work will 
be found many who have, through their own unaided industry, raised 
themselves from small beginnings to positions of usefulness and import- 
ance. This may be truly said of Dr. J. W. Kermott. He was born in 
the province of New Brunswick, in 1819. At the very early age of 
nineteen, he emigrated to Canada West, where, after availing himself, 
through many obstacles, of such educational advantages as his industry 
could command, he began to teach school. In this occupation, he made 
valuable progress for himself. The advantages were twofold, for while 



382 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the vessel I was in quest of, set fire to her in several places, and 
left her. I succeeded in boarding her, and, by considerable exer- 
tions, extinguished the flames, and secui'ed her from sinking. I 
then stripped her and prepared for getting her down the falls. 
Adverse winds prevented my attempting the falls until the twenty- 
sixth, when every possible effort was used, but, I am sorry to say, 
without success, to get her over in safety. The fall, in three- 
quarters of a mile, is forty-five feet, and the channel very rocky. 
The current runs from twenty to thirty knots, and in one place there 
is a perpendicular leap of ten feet, between three rocks. Here 
she bilged, but was brought down so rapidly that we succeeded 
in running her on shore, below the rapids, before she filled, and 
burned her. She was a fine, new schooner, upwards of one hun- 
dred tons, called the Perseverance, and will be a severe loss to the 
Northwest Company. Had I succeeded in getting her safe, I 
could have loaded her to advantage from the enemy's store- 
houses. I have, however, brought down four captured boats, 
loaded with Indian goods, to a considerable amount ; the balance, 
contained in four large and two small storehouses, was destroyed, 
amounting in value to from fifty to one hundred thousand dollars. 
All private property was, according to your orders, respected. 
The ofiicers and men under my command behaved with great 
activity and zeal, particularly Midshipman Swartwout." 

On the return of the launches to St. Joseph's, the squadron 
proceeded to Mackinaw, where it arrived on the twenty-sixth. 

his duties in the school room brought moderate pecuniary gain, the 
nature of his labors had a most salutary efl'ect in training his mind in all 
those practical questions so requisite for the foundation of the profes- 
sional studies with which he was soon after deeply absorbed. 

Prudence and perseverance, at the end of several years' teaching, 
enabled him to proceed to Philadelphia, where, at the most celebrated 
medical university in America, he entered upon the study of medicine. 
In this institution, he displayed that energy characteristic of his life, and 
prosecuted his most dilficult studies with marked success. Graduating 
in due time, he returned to his adopted home in Canada West, where he 
entered upon the practice of his profession. Not many years previous, 
he had arrived in the same place a stranger to its inhabitants and without 
means. Now he was welcomed by warm friends and enjoyed the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 383 

Daring the time that had now elapsed since the first appearance 
of the fleet ofi" Lighthouse Point, Colonel McDonall, British 
commander at Mackinaw, had been strengthening his position ; 
and such aid as the country afibrded had been summoned to 
his assistance. Nor was this aid inconsiderable. Under the 
unfortunate circumstances attending the attack, more efficient 
auxiliaries could not have been found than those very savages, 
who, during that brief period of delay had gathered, in large 
numbers, upon the island. Batteries had been planted at various 
places on the heights which best commanded the approaches to 
the island. One was situated on the height overlooking the old 
distillery, another upon the high point just west of the fort, and 
others along the ridge back of the present town, from the fort 
to Robinson's Folly. Thus that officer, though he had but few 
men, comparatively, in command, and must have surrendered at 
once had an immediate attack been made upon him, was able, 
with the advantages he had now gained, to withstand a strong 
force. 

Sinclair pushed up as near to the channel between Round and 
Mackinaw islands as he dared, on account of the batteries of the 
enemy, and as close to the eastern extremity of Round Island as 
safety would permit, and anchored. Scarcely, however, had the 
anchors reached the bottom, when the English opened a brisk 
fire upon him, and he concluded to move to a more respectful 
distance. 

When the fleet had been moved further away toward Bois 

accomplishments of his recent eflforts at college. He at once entered 
upon a most flattering practice, and in a few years accumulated a large 
fortune, which, it should be mentioned here, he afterwards lost in an 
unfortunate speculation. 

In 1856, he emigrated to Detroit, where he has since remained, enjoying 
a practice only due to his usefulness and professional abilities. In 1860, 
he commenced the manufacture of medicines, which he has continued 
until the present date with remarkable success. 

Dr. Kermott is rendering himself useful to society in religious as well 
as medical labors. He is an active member of the Central Methodist 
Church, and his efforts, with other useful men in that church, have been 
productive of much good. 



384 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Blanc, out of the reach of the enemy's guns, Croghan dispatched 
an officer, with a number of men, to Round Island, to reconnoiter 
the enemy's position, and, if possible, find some advantageous 
point at which to erect a battery. They landed, and selected, as 
the most advantageous position for a battery, a point just above 
the old lime kiln, which is the crowning point of the island. 
No sooner, however, had the movement been discovered by the 
British, than two or three hundred birch bark canoes, with sev- 
eral bateaux and other boats, were launched, and a large party 
of Indians started in pursuit. Discovering the movement, the 
party hastened back. When they reached their boats, the Indians 
could be seen skulking through the woods after them, and one 
of their number, a Frenchman, who had been a little behind, was 
captured. They now sprang into their boats and pushed off, with 
as much dispatch as possible ; but, at a short distance from the 
beach, scarcely out of reach of the enemy's fire, the boat struck 
a rock, which was just beneath the surface of the water, and 
swung around, as though on a pivot. At this the savages, who 
were fast emerging from the thickets and approaching the beach, 
fired upon them. The fire was returned, but without execution 
on either side. Fearing that the Indians, upon arriving at the 
point from which they had embarked, would be able to reach 
them, the officer ordered the soldiers to cease firing and endeavor 
to clear the boat from the rock. This accomplished, they returned 
without further mishap to the fleet. Upon learning that one 
of the party sSnt out had been captured by the Indians, Sinclair 
ordered a small vessel of one gun to pass round to the further 
side of the island, that, if possible, he might be retaken. A 
strong wind was blowing from the west, against which the little 
bark had to make her way through the narrow channel that 
separates Round and Bois Blanc islands ; hence the task was difli- 
cult. She had scarcely laid her course, when the beach was 
thronged with savages, and, as often as she came in reach, in 
beating through this channel, these savages poured upon her a 
shower of musket-balls. This fire was returned with much spirit, 
but neither party suffered loss. The Indians now began their 
return to Mackinaw, with their victim, chanting the death-dirge. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



385 



A shot was fired at them from the Lawrence, but without effect. 
As they neared the island, the Indians that had remained came 
down to meet them, and the prisoner would have been killed 
and feasted upon by his inhuman captors, had not the British 




"'in 



HON. ZACHARIAH CHANDLER. 

Zachariah Chandler was born in Bedford, New Hampshire, Decem- 
ber 10, 1813, received an academic education, settled in Detroit, Mich., 
in 1833, where he became an eminently successful dry goods merchant. 

In politics a Whig, while that party was in existence, he was elected 
mayor of Detroit in 1851, but, while leading the Whig ticket largely, 
was defeated for governor of Michigan in 1852. He was the first Repub- 
lican senator in Congress from Michigan, succeeding Senator Cass in 
office, taking his seat in the Thirty-fifth Congress in 1857, and served as 
25 



386 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

commander sent a strong guard of soldiers and rescued him, the 
moment the canoes touched the shore. 

During the next day, as the Lawrence was cruising about the 
island, a thick fog suddenly came down, and enveloped all in 
obscurity. When, later in the day, this fog lifted, the commander 
found that he was within a very short distance of the southwest 
part of the island, with scarcely any wind, and in range of the 
enemy's guns. A vigorous fire was opened upon him from the 
battery near the west end of the fort ; but with such want of 
skill that he suffered no damage from it. He fired a single shot 
in return, but could not elevate his guns sufficiently to batter the 
walls of the fort. Unfavorable weather prevented operations for 
several days, when Colonel Croghan, having learned something 
of the strength of the enemy's fortifications, and of the number 
and spirit of the savage allies which the English had called to 
their assistance, despaired of being able to take the place by 
storm, as he had hoped. He therefore determined to effect a land- 
ing, and establish himself on some favorable position whence he 
might annoy the enemy, by gradual and slow approaches, under 
cover of his artillery, which he knew to be superior to that of 
the foe. 

On the fourth of August, the vessels of the fleet were ranged 
in line at the distance of three hundred yards from the beach, 
and the small boats made ready to carry the army to the island. 
Scarcely, however, had the work of embarkation commenced, 

a member of the committee on the District of Cohimbia, the committee 
on commerce, and the committee on revolutionary claims. 

At the first session of the Thirty-seventh Congress, in July, 1861, the 
Democratic senators from the Southern States having withdrawn from 
the United States Senate, leaving the Republicans in the majority for the 
first time, Mr. Chandler was ajjpointed chairman of the committee on 
commerce, which position he has held during each succeeding Congress 
to the present time, he having been reelected to the Senate in 1863, for 
the full term of six years, and again in 1869, for the term ending in 1875. 

In addition to his important position on the committee on commerce, 
after the committee on mines and mining was formed, he was a member 
of that committee, and was also a member of each of the celebrated joint 
congressional committees on the conduct of the war, during the Thirty- 



atSfORY OF MICHIGAN. 387 

when the adjacent thickets were obsei'ved to be full of savages, 
plumed and painted for the strife. When all was ready, and the 
word of command had been spoken, they moved toward the land- 
ing, with measured dip of the oar, and, meanwhile, a brisk can- 
nonading cleared the thickets of their lurking foes. Under cover 
of the guns the landing was easily effected, and the best possible 
arrangements of the troops made preparatory to the marching. 

Colonel Croghan quickly formed his line, and advauced to the 
edge of the clearing, where he received intelligence that the 
enemy was in waiting for him, and ready to dispute his progress. 
In a few seconds after he received this information, a fire was 
opened upon him from the enemy's battery. He now carefully 
surveyed the clearing before him, and became convinced that the 
enemy's position was well selected ; but, by a vigorous movement, 
he hoped to outflank him and gain his rear. Accordingly, he 
decided to change his own position, and advance Major Holmes' 
battalion of regulars on the right of the militia. This move- 
ment was immediately ordered, and, to encourage his men, Major 
Holmes led them in person; but, while gallantly pressing on to 
the charge, a destructive fire was opened by some Indians con- 
cealed in a thicket, near the American right, and the brave Major 
fell, mortally wounded. The battalion, having now lost the ser- 
vices of its commander, fell into confusion, from which the best 
efforts of its remaining officers were not able to recover it. 

Finding it impossible to gain the enemy's left, owing to the 

seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses, and was a member of the joint 
committee on Southern outrages since the war. He strongly advocated 
all practical measures for the discomfiture of the rebels and their allies, 
and for the suppression of the rebellion. 

During the war, his relations with President Lincoln were of a most 
cordial and intimate character, and he was a member of the national 
committee appointed to accompany the remains of the martyred chief 
magistrate to Illinois. His faith in the maintenance of the integrity of 
the Republic against the assaults of its foes never faltered nor wavered 
during the darkest hours of the great conflict. 

He was an earnest and powerful advocate of our admirable national 
banking system, and aided materially in its establishment upon a broad 
and substantial basis, and his efforts in behalf of the commercial and 



388 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

impenetrable thickness of the woods, a charge was ordered to be 
made by the regulars immediately against the front. This 
charge, though made in some confusion, served to drive the enemy 
back into the woods, whence an annoying fire was kept up by the 
Indians. Lieutenant Morgan was now ordered up with a light 
piece, to assist the left, which at this time was particularly galled, 
and the excellent service of this piece forced the enemy to retire 
to a greater distance. 

Croghan had now reached the point at which he had hoped to 
fortify himself, and thence harass the enemy at pleasure ; but he 
found it by no means tenable, on account of the thickets and 
ravines surrounding it. He therefore determined no longer to 
expose his troops to the fire of an enemy having every advantage 
which could be obtained from numbers and a knowledge of the 
position, and ordered an immediate retreat to the place of laud- 
ing. When the troops had regained the shipping, the fleet again 
moved round towards Bois Blanc, and anchored. 

While the forces were preparing to disembark, previous to the 
engagement, Mr. Davenport had urged Major Holmes to 
exchange his uniform for a common suit, stating that the Indians 
would otherwise certainly make a mark of him ; but Holmes 
replied that his uniform was made to wear, and he intended to 
wear it ; adding that, if it was his day to fall, he was willing. 
The sequel showed how unwise he was in not listening to this 
advice. The party of Indians posted on the right were Winne- 

other vital interests of the country have been during his whole public 
career assiduous and untiring, accompanied with a lai"ge degree of suc- 
cess. During the presidential campaign of 1872 he was chairman of the 
Union Republican Congressional Executive Committee, and the skill and 
energy with which this very successful campaign was conducted was due 
largely to his efforts. 

Throughout his long and successful Congressional career he has been 
particularly noted for his unswerving devotion to the interests of the 
State he represents, winning, even from his opponents, unqualified 
approval. Amidst all the temptations which necessarily surround a 
leader of a great and successful party, he has never stained his hands 
with corruption, and even his political enemies admit that his official 
career has been distinguished by the most rigid integrity. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



389 



bagoes, from Green Bay, the most savage and cruel of all the 
British allies, and they, indeed, did make a mark of him. Five 
well-aimed bullets simultaneously entered his breast, and he 
expired almost instantly. Captain Desha also felt the fury of 




CHARLES H. BORGMAN. 

Charles H. Borgman, the present city clerk of Detroit, and for many 
years a teacher of the German language in that city, is a native of 
Prussia. 

He came to the United States at, a very early age, and, after receiving a 
substantial education in Cincinnati, Ohio, removed to Michigan. 

His first active emploj'ment in this State was the execution of several 
railroad contracts. Subsequently he entered upon the duties of teacher 
of the German language in Detroit, in which capacity he labored zeal- 
ously for ten years, achieving much success and winning considerable 
local popularity as a professor of that dilBcult language. These duties 
brought him in connection with the better class of citizens, and seems to 



390 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

those savages, but, fortunately, escaped with his life. Captain 
Vanhorn and Lieutenant Jackson, both brave, intrepid young 
men, also fell, mortally wounded, at the head of their respective 
commands. Twelve privates were killed ; six sergeants, three cor- 
porals, one musician, and twenty-eight privates wounded, and two 
privates missing. 

The most shocking barbarities were practiced on the bodies of 
the slain. They were literally cut to pieces by their savage con- 
querors. Our informant remembers seeing the Indians come to the 
fort, after the engagement, some with a hand, some with a head, and 
some with a foot or limb ; and it is officially stated by Sinclair, upon 
the testimony of two ladies (Mrs. Davenport and Mrs. John Dous- 
man), who were present and witnessed it, that the hearts and 
livers of these unfortunate men were taken out, and actually 
cooked and feasted on — and that, too, in the quarters of the 
British officers, sanctioned by Colonel McDonall — by the savages. 
Fragments of these bodies were taken to the Indian graveyard, 
west of the village, and placed on poles over the graves, where 
they remained for ten days. The body of Major Holmes, which, 
by neglect of the soldiers in whose hands it had been placed, had 
been left on the field, escaped mutilation. During the action, 
these men concealed the body by covering it with rails and 
leaves, so that the Indians did not find it. It had, however, been 
stripped, but the British commander threatened to hang the rob- 
bers of the dead if the articles taken were not immediately 
returned. This threat soon brought the clothes, watch, papers, 
etc., which had been stolen by two Frenchmen, into his posses- 
sion, and, with the body, they were given up to the Americans. 

have been the secret force that secured his popular majority at the elec- 
tion of city officers in 1871. 

Mr. Bergman's performance of the duties of city clerk was marked 
with care, ability and faithfulness. In the fall of 1873, he was reelected 
by the largest majority given to any candidate before the people at that 
election. 

Mr. Borgman has also made considerable progress as a merchant, hav- 
ing established, in connection with Mr. Ling, a large book, music and 
musical instrument store, on Monroe avenue, corner of Randolph street, 
Detroit, Michigan. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 391 

Thus, in loss and disgrace, ended the effort to wrest Fort 
Mackinaw, and the island upon which it stands, from the English. 
When the fleet first appeared off Lighthouse Point, there was 
but a single company of ti'oops in the fort, and but few, if any, 
Indian auxiliaries upon the island ; and, had Colonel Croghan at 
once demanded a surrender, instead of at first going to St. 
Joseph's, the post would doubtless have passed back into the 
hands of the Americans without bloodshed, and with as little 
parley as, two years before, it had passed into the hands of the 
English. Or, had a prompt and willing surrender been refused, 
a vigorous attack must have quickly reduced it, as the American 
force was greatly superior to the English. But the delay was 
pregnant with disaster and disgrace. 

Having failed in the reduction of Fort Mackinaw, which Sin- 
clair denominated a perfect Gibraltar, measures were now taken 
to starve it into submission, by cutting off its supplies. The 
troops, with the exception of three companies, were dispatched 
in two vessels, to join General Brown on the Niagara, and the 
remainder of the squadron, a pilot having been now secured, 
directed its course to the east side of the lake, to break up any 
establishments which the enemy might have in that quarter. 
While the Americans were masters of Lake Erie, there were 
only two practicable lines of communication between the remote 
garrison of Fort Mackinaw and the lower country. The first 
of these was with Montreal by way of the Ottawa, Lake Nip- 
pising and French river ; and the second with York, by means 
of Lake Simcoe and the Nautauwasaga river. Having learned 
that the first of these communications was impracticable at that 
season of the year, on account of the marshy state of the port- 
ages, they proceeded to the mouth of the Nautauwasaga, in hopes 
of finding the enemy's schooner Nancy, which was thought to be 
in that quarter. 

On the thirteenth of August, the fleet anchored off the mouth 
of that river, and the troops were quickly disembarked, for the 
purpose of fixing a camp on the peninsula formed by the river 
and the lake. On :reconnoitering the position, the schooner was 
discovered in the river, a few hundred yards above, under cover 



392 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

of a block-house, erected on a commanding situation, on the 
opposite shore. On the following morning, a fire was opened by 
the shipping upon the block-house, but with little effect, owing to 
a thin wood, which intervened and obscured the view. But, about 
twelve o'clock, two howitzers were landed ; and, being placed 
within a few hundred yards of the block-house, commenced throw- 
ing shells. In a few minutes, one of these shells burst in the 
block-house, and, shortly after, blew up the magazine, allowing the 
enemy scarcely time to escape. The explosion of the magazine 
set fire to a train, which had been laid for the destruction of the 
vessel, and in a few minutes she was enveloped in flames ; and her 
valuable cargo, consisting of several hundred barrels of provi- 
sions, intended as a six months supply for the garrison at Macki- 
naw, was entirely consumed. 

Colonel Croghau did not think it advisable to fortify and gar- 
rison Nautauwasaga, because the communication with York was 
so short and convenient, that any force left there might be easily 
cut ofi" during the winter ; hence, Sinclair left the Tigress and 
Scorpion to blockade it closely, until the season should become too 
boisterous for boat transportation, and the remainder of the squad- 
ron returned to Detroit. But this blockade, which, had it been 
properly enforced, must speedily have made a bloodless conquest 
of Mackinaw, was soon brought to an end by the capture of both 
these schooners. After the destruction of the Nancy, her cap- 
tain, with several of his men, at once repaired to Fort Mackinaw, 
to communicate the news of the loss to Colonel McDonall, and 
the little garrison under his command. Under the circumstances, 
it was unwelcome news, indeed. Provisions were already getting 
low ; a single loaf of bread was worth one dollar and a half; the 
men were subsisting on half rations, and had already been 
reduced to the necessity of killing several horses, to ward off 
starvation. And, worse than all, a long and dreary winter was 
near at hand, portending nothing but death from starvation. 

Something must be done ; and, accordingly, an expedition was 
at once fitted out by Colonel McDonall, consisting of a force of a 
hundred and fifty sailors and soldiers, and two hundred and fifty 
Indians, in open boats, to break the blockade, if possible. The 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 393 

Tigress, which for several day.s had been separated from the 
Scorpion, was surprised and boarded during the night of Septem- 
ber third, it being very dark ; and, after a desperate hand-to-hand 
struggle, in which some were killed and several wounded, was 
captured. During the contest, an attempt was made by the 
Americans to destroy the signal-book, but, unfortunately, without 
success ; and, by the aid of this book, the Tigress, now manned 
by English officers and men, surprised and captured the Scor- 
pion, on the morning of the sixth, at the dawn of day. This 
was a finishing stroke to the ill-fated enterprise, and Mackinaw 
was left secure in the hands of the English, until peace was 
declared, which took place in the following winter ; and, in the 
spring of 1815, the British troops evacuated the post, and a com- 
pany of American soldiers, under Colonel Chambers, took pos- 
session of it. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



The Ordinance op 1787 — Erection op the Territory op Michigan 
— Its Boundary — Judicial Administration — The Woodward 
Code op Laws — Governor Hull — His Trial by Court-Mar- 
tial. 

We will now turn from scenes of warfare, and notice more 
particularly the political history of Michigan. Under the French 
and British dominion, the points occupied, on the eastern bound- 
ary of what now constitutes the State of Michigan, were con- 
sidered a part of New France, or Canada. Detroit was known 
to the French as Fort Pontchartrain. The military commandant, 
under both governments, exercised a civil jurisdiction over the set- 
tlements surrounding their posts. When possession was yielded 
to the United States, in the year 1796, the British garrisons at 
Detroit and Michilimackinac were replaced by detachments, by 
General Wayne, and Michigan became a part of the Northwest- 
ern Territory. That Territory was then in the first stage of gov- 
ernment, prescribed by the ordinance of 1787. Arthur St. Clair 
was its Governor ; and he was, therefore, the first American chief 
magistrate under whom Michigan was placed. In the year 1798, 
the Northwestern Territory assumed what was called the second 
grade of Territorial government. The county of Wayne, then 
coextensive with the Territory of Michigan, as afterwards estab- 
lished, sent one representative to the General Assembly of the 
Northwestern Territory, held at Chillicothe, whose election gave 
the first occasion for the exercise of the right of sufl^rage in this 
county. 

In the year 1800, Indiana Avas established as a separate Terri- 
tory, embracing all the country lying west of the present State of 
Ohio, and of an extension of the western line of that State due 
north to the Territorial limits of the United States. In the year 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



395 



1802, the peninsula was annexed to the Territory of Indiana, by 
the same act of Congress which authorized the formation into a 
State of that part of the Northwestern Territory which now con- 
stitutes Ohio. 




HON. A. B. TURNER. 

Aakon B. Ttjrner was born in 1823, at Plattsburgh, N. Y., whence 
his father, Isaac Turner, moved his family to Grand Eapids in the spring 
of 1836. He commenced type-setting in the office of the Grand River 
Times, the first paper published at Grand Rapids, in the winter of 1838. 
December 35, 1844, he commenced the publication of the Grand Bajnds 
Eagle (at first called the Grand Biter Eagle), and has continued it ever 
since, a period of twenty-nine consecutive years. He started the Daily 
Eagle May 26th, 1856. Since 1865 he has had as a business partner Eli 
F. Harrington, a brother-in-law. As founder of the Eagle, continuous 
publisher and owner, still retaining control as principal proprietor, Mr. 



396 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

In the year 1805, Michigan commenced its separate existence. 
That part of the Territory which lies east of a north and south 
line drawn through the middle of Lake Michigan, w^as formed 
into a distinct government by an act of Congress passed in that 
year. The provisions of the ordinance of 1787 continued to regu- 
late the form of government. That ordinance wisely provided 
for the establishment of those fundamental principles of law 
which are regarded as the best securities of civil and religious 
liberty and political equality, and was marked in its provisions 
and its tone by prudence, discretion and humanity. The prohibi- 
tion of slavery which it contained may have saved the country 
northwest of the Ohio from an incalculable evil. Under this 
constitution, granted to the inhabitants of the country northwest 
of the Ohio, the executive power was vested in a governor ; the 
judicial in three judges; and the legislative in both united. The 
officers were appointed by the general government; their legis- 
lative authority was restricted to the adoption of laws from codes 
of the several States. This was the form of government provided 
until the Territory should contain five thousand free white males 
of full age; and it then became optional with the people to 
choose a legislative body among themselves ; to be supported, 
however, at their own proper cost. Subsequent legislation of 
Congress was more liberal, as well in providing a legislature 

Turner may be styled " the veteran journalist " of Michigan. A pioneer 
in the Grand River valley, and struggling with the slow growth and 
limited means of pioneer life, during what were called the " hard times," 
he has built up an extensive and prospering printing house, keeping pace 
with the growth of Western Michigan, his newspaper ranking with the 
leading press of the State. From a small beginning, he has acquired a 
handsome property and profitable business interests. 

Mr. Turner has had considerable experience in public life — as city 
clerk, as assistant clerk of the House in the Legislature, and as secretary 
of the Michigan Senate in 1859 and 1801 ; was appointed by President 
Lincoln collector of internal revenue for the fourth collection district, 
organizing that service and serving four years; was appointed postmaster 
of Grand Rapids by President Grant in April, 1869, and reappointed in 
1873. He is yet in the full vigor of manhood, and ranks among the 
successful men of Western Michigan. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 397 

upon better principles, at the expense of the United States, as 
in the footing upon which it placed the elective franchise and 
eligibility to office. Under the ordinance, a freehold qualification 
was required, both on the part of the elector, and to render an 
individual eligible to the General Assembly, which was, under 
certain circumstances, provided for. 

In 1818, upon the admission of Illinois into the Union, all the 
territory lying north of that State and of Indiana was annexed 
to Michigan. From 1805, when the Territory was erected, to 
1819, our political condition was, in every respect, that prescribed 
by the ordinance of 1787. By an act passed in the latter year, 
the Territory was authorized to elect a delegate to Congress. 
Under the ordinance, the privilege only accrued to a Territory 
when it should have entered upon the second grade of govern- 
ment, and the delegate was then to be chosen by the General 
Assembly. By the act referred to, the power was given direct to 
the people, and the right of suffrage was extended to all taxable 
citizens. In the year 1823, the form of the Territorial govern- 
ment was essentially changed by an act of Congress, which abro- 
gated the legislative power of the governor and judges, and 
granted more enlarged ones to a council, to be composed of nine 
persons, selected by the President of the United States, from 
eighteen chosen by the electors of the Territory. By this law, 
eligibility to office was made coextensive with the right of suffrage 
as established by the act of 1819. The limitation of the tenure 
of the judicial office to a term of four years, is another important 
feature of the act of 1823. 

In the year 1825, all county officers, with the exception of those 
of a judicial character, or whose functions connected them with 
the administration of justice, were made elective ; and the appoint- 
ments which remained in the hands of the executive were made 
subject to the approval of the legislative council. In 1827, the 
electors of the Territory were authorized to choose a number of 
persons, corresponding with that at which the members of the 
council was fixed, and their election made absolute. This, indeed, 
was the last form of the Territorial government of Michigan — 
certainly a liberal one to be maintained by the parent State. The 



398 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

legislative council was empowered to enact all laws not incon- 
sistent with the ordinance of 1787 ; their acts, however, were 
subject to be annulled by Congress, and to the absolute veto of the 
Executive of the Territory. 

General Hull was the first Governor of the Territory of Michi- 
gan. When he arrived at Detroit to assume his official duties, 
he found the town in ruins, it having been destroyed by fire. 
Whether this disaster had been occasioned by accident or design 
was not known. However this may have been, as the town was 
very compact, covering only two acres of ground, and the mate- 
rials were of the most combustible character, it was soon entirely 
consumed, and the unfortunate inhabitants were obliged to encamp 
in the open fields, almost destitute of food and shelter. Still, 
they were not discouraged, and soon commenced rebuilding their 
houses on the same site. The general government also took their 
case into consideration, and an act of Congress was passed, grant- 
ing to the sufferers the site of the old town of Detroit, and ten 
thousand acres of land adjoining. 

As before mentioned, a judiciary system was now established, 
and the Territorial militia organized. In October of the same 
year, a report was made to Congress of the condition of the Ter- 
ritory ; and in May of the following year a code of laws was 
adopted similar to those of the original States. This code was 
signed by Governor Hull, Augustus B. Woodward, and Frederick 
Bates, Judges of the Territory, and was called the " Woodward 
Code." The bounds of the Territorial government, as then estab- 
lished, embraced all the country on the American side of the 
Detroit river, east of a north and south line drawn through the 
center of Lake Michigan. The Indian laud claims had been par- 
tially extinguished previous to this period. By the treaty of Fort 
Mcintosh, in 1785, and that of Fort Harmer, in 1787, extensive 
cessions had either been made or confirmed, and, in the year 1807, 
the Indian titles to several tracts became entirely extinct. In 
consequence of the settlements which had been made under the 
French and English governments, some confusion sprang up in 
regard to the titles to valuable tracts that were claimed by differ- 
ent individuals, under the French laws. Congress, accordingly, 



HISTORY Ol' MICHIGAN. 



899 



passed an act establishing a board of commissioners, to examine 
and settle these conflicting claims ; and, in 1807, another act was 
passed, confirming, to a certain extent, the titles of all such as 
had been in possession of the lands then occupied by them from 




PEAR TREES IN THE OLD JESUIT GARDEN. 

the year 1796, when the Territory was surrendered, up to the 
date of that act. Other acts were subsequently passed, extending 
the same conditions to the settlements on the upper lakes. 

In addition to the settlements along the shores of the Detroit 
and St. Clair rivers, and the lake of the latter name, where there 



400 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

was a continued line of cottages, with farms adjoining, containing 
orchards of pear and apple trees, planted at an early date, and 
the old posts on the island of Mackinaw, at Ste. Marie, and at St. 
Joseph, the French colonists had a line of cabins on the River 
Raisin, where the city of Monroe now stands. The interior of the 
country was but little known, except by those who were engaged 
in the fur trade, and these were interested in representing it in as 
unfavorable a light as possible. No portion of the public domain 
had yet been brought into the market. But few American set- 
tlers had, therefore, ventured into this region, though the adjoin- 
ing State of Ohio had already acquired a considerable population. 
Such was the condition of Michigan just before the Tecumseh 
war, a full account of which is given in a previous chapter. 

After this contest, Michigan emerged into a new existence. 
Colonel Cass, who had served with much zeal during the war, was 
appointed Governor of the Territory ; and under his administra- 
tion it gradually advanced in prosperity. 

But we must not enter upon the successful administration of 
Governor Cass, without following General Hull, the first Governor 
of the Territory, a little further. In our last mention of him, he 
was being conveyed to Montreal, a prisoner of war. We next 
find him before a court-martial, at Albany, New York. The 
court convened January 3d, 1814, with a full board, and General 
Dearborn was the President. No objection was taken to the con- 
stitution of this court by the accused. The session of the court 
was protracted, and every facility afforded to General Hull to 
present his defense. The Judge- Advocate, Mr. Van Buren, was 
remarkably fair and impartial in conducting the examination. 
The charges were three in number : treason, cowardice, and neglect 
of duty. The court acquitted the accused of the high crime of 
treason. As to the other charges, the court, upon mature deliber- 
ation, found General Hull guilty, and sentenced him to be shot ; 
but, by reason of his services in the war of the Revolution, and 
his advanced age, earnestly recommended him to the mercy of the 
President. The President approved of the finding of the court, 
but remitted the execution of the sentence, and dismissed him from 
the service. 



filStORt OP MiCfllGAN. 401 

iDhe civil administration of Governor Hull presents but few 
salient points. His military administration, ending, as it did, by 
the ignominious surrender of Detroit to a British force far inferior 
to his own, was fraught with irretrievable ruin to himself, as well 
as temporary disgrace to the American arms. 

What was the actual moving cause of this disgraceful capitula- 
tion will probably never be known, till the final day. Time, how- 
ever, has somewhat softened the harsh judgment which was passed 
upon him at the time ; and some of the earlier impressions, which 
attributed his conduct to money, the price of treason, have been 
removed. But the most that charity can do is to attribute it to 
cowardice and imbecility. Efforts have, from time to time, been 
made to rescue his name from obloquy ; but such efforts have uni- 
versally proved failures. It is enough for an American to know 
that he surrendered his command to a force of less than one-third 
his own strength. General Hull's principal excuse was, that he 
was short of ammunition and provisions. He does not allege that 
he was destitute — the contrary was well known to be the case — 
but that he apprehended that he had not enough to last till the 
final issue of the campaign. But this, instead of being an excuse 
for an unconditional surrender, was the stronger reason for 
promptitude and energy. After ammunition and provisions fail, 
the worst disaster that can befall an army is that which he forced 
upon his command before a blow was struck. 

The situation was briefly this : He had been instructed to pro- 
tect Detroit. The invasion of Canada was left discretionary with 
him. He did neither. It is true he crossed the river, but only 
to make a disgraceful retreat. When followed, and summoned to 
surrender, he complied with the demand ; only holding out long 
enough to increase the pomposity of the enemy, and provoke the 
curses of his command. His flight commenced at the bridge of 
the Canards, and terminated in the American fortress. His 
retreat was without a reason, and his surrender without a parallel. 

Nothing but the memory of other and prouder days, and gal- 
lant deeds, can rescue the name of Hull from unmitigated con- 
tempt; and the kindest judgment which a dispassionate posterity 
can pronounce upon him is to ascribe his errors to cowardice and 
imbecility. 

26 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



General Cass Appointed Governor — Defenseless Condition op 
THE Territory — Indian Depredations Arol^nd Detroit — Brav- 
ery AND Energy op General Cass — His Treaty with the Indians 
— Condition of Michigan at the Close op the War — Expedition 
of General Cass to the Upper PENmsuLA — Discoveries— Pros- 
perity OP the Territory under Cass' Administration— The 
Treaty of Chicago — Execution op Indians. 

A NEW era now dawned upon the Territory of Michigan. Gen- 
eral Lewis Cass, who had served, with great credit and distinc- 
tion, through the war of 1812, was appointed Governor of the 
Territory. At that time its prosperity and advancement may be 
said to have commenced. Up to this time, there had been no 
inducement whatever for the immigration of people from the 
Eastern States. The country had just emerged from a bloody 
and devastating war, and the public lands had not been brought 
into market. The beautiful and fertile lands of the lower penin- 
sula, now studded with happy homes and flourishing cities, and 
traversed in every direction by the locomotive, were traversed 
only by wild beasts, and wilder men. The streams, now white 
with the sails of noble ships, and dotted with manufactories, were 
navigated only by the bark canoe. The feeble settlements along 
the frontier had been converted into scenes of desolation ; not a 
road had been constructed through the interior ; and there was no 
means of access to the country except by the rivers and lakes, and 
the military road along the Detroit river. The British garrisons 
were broken up, it is true, and Tecumseh was no more, but the 
people were by no means free from the calamities of war. The 
ill feeling of the Indians continued unsubdued, and their pro- 
pensities to murder, rob and plunder, were still as great as when 
Tecumseh led them to battle. The British flag still waved over 
Mackinaw, and the intermediate country was filled with fur- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



403 



traders who regarded their interests as antagonistic to the United 
States. 

At this time, it must be remarked, all of the province of Can- 
ada which had been held in submission by the British army, was 




ISAAC NEWTON SWAIN. 

Isaac Newton Swain, one of the earliest pioneer settlers of the inte- 
rior and western parts of the lower peninsula of Michigan, was born 
near Sackett's Harbor, in Jefferson county, New York, November 20th, 



404 GfiNfiRAL flISTORY OF THE STATES. 

now subject to the order of the Governor of Michigan, and upon 
him rested the responsibility of protecting the rights of the people 
on the east side of the river, in common with the citizens upon the 
west side. How long the war would continue, or how it would 
end, or whether Canada would eventually become a part and par- 
cel of Michigan, no one could tell. But it was sufficiently 
obvious to the mind of General Cass that the peninsula of Michi- 
gan, at least, was to remain under the Stars and Stripes; and he 
set himself to work, with great wisdom and industry, to provide 
for the future welfare of the people intrusted to his charge. In 
order to do this effectually, it was first necessary to inspire the 
people with confidence in their personal safety, and to assure them 
that their property was protected by the sleepless vigilance of the 
law. His first act was to tender his resignation as brigadier-gen- 
eral in the army, believing that such extensive civil and military 
powers should not be vested in the same person. His resignation 
was accepted, with the proviso that he should, in his capacity as 
Governor, take charge of the defenses of the Territory. 

The seat of war at this time having been transferred to the 
East, Michigan was left with only a company of twenty-seven sol- 
diers for her defense. With this feeble force, and the local militia, 
the Governor was required to defend the Territory against the 

1807. He yet distinctly remembers hearing the reports of the first 
guns fired in our second war Avith England in 1812. His home was the 
scene of some of the most exciting events of tliat final contest with 
Britain, and he thus early imbibed indelible liostility to the •' red coats," 
notwithstanding both sides of his ancestry, being of the Quaker order, 
came early fi'ora the south of England. They were numbered among 
the first settlers of Riiode Island and Nantucket. 

When only nine years old, his parents and their family of five children, 
of whom he was tiie youngest, removed and settled on the "Holland 
Purchase " (so called), in western New York, now Royalton, in Niagara 
county. This was several years before the existence of the Erie canal, 
and at a period when the products of the settlers had scarcely any cash 
value. Money was a great raritj' among the people there, in those daj's, 
and when an occasional shilling was discovered in the neighborhood, its 
possessor at once became an object of considerable attention. 

Such was the condition and customs of the infant settlement in wliich 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 405 

bands of hostile Indians who were constantly hovering around 
Detroit. 

It was at this time, when Detroit was thus exposed, that a war 
party of savages issued from the dense forests which skirted the 
town, and marked their irruption by one of those deeds of blood 
which have made the early history of Michigan a record of trials, 
sufferings and hardships without a parallel in the annals of fron- 
tier life. The strength of the party was not great, as it after- 
wards appeared, but, as it was unknown, the excitement and alarm 
of the inhabitants Avere intense. But Governor Cass was equal 
to the emergency, and in a short time rallied his undisciplined 
troops, pursued the savages to their native haunts, and, alter a 
sharp and bloody conflict, returned to Detroit victorious. It is 
within the memory of men now living, how the people of the town 
were terrified, upon the return of the victorious band, by the 
scalp halloa that was raised by some friendly Indians, to indicate 
the victory of the party. The horrid sound, which has curdled 
the blood of the stoutest hearts in many a lonely cabin in the 
wilderness, and tells the tale of blood before the gory trophies are 
exhibited, broke the silence of the evening air. The helpless 
women and children, whose husbands and fathers had gone forth 
to fight in their defense, had no means of knowing whether the 

Mr. Swain spent the largest part of his youth. At length, however, 
roads were opened, and when these were connected and made passable, 
at least, by " bridges built by the frosts of winter," the dense forests were 
awakened by occasional teams. A few loads of the best " Genesee 
wheat " were transported from that " far off western country," and carried 
more than fifty miles over rough and troublesome roads to a small ham- 
let, then the nearest cash market, and now the prosperous city of 
Rochester, New York. There this grain .was sold at twenty-five to 
twenty-eight cents per bushel, and added very considerably to the 
circulating medium of the pioneer settlement. The erection of the first 
school house in the settlement is an event not easily forgotten by Mr. 
Swain. It was constructed by a "bee," and occupied but one day for 
its completion. This is the more surprising since the building was 
transformed from standing trees to a temple of science in tliis short 
space of time. The "neighbors all turned out," and at four o'clock in 
the morning the sound of their axes, the falling of heavy trees, and the 



406 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

terrible cry came from friend or foe, and, in their uncertainty, 
many of them fled to their canoes, and took refuge on the other 
side of the river. Happily, the return of their friends removed 
their fears, and secured their safety ; and their return was as joy- 
ful as their departure had been precipitous. 

The bravery of Governor Cass as a soldier, fighting the bands 
of hostile Indians which surrounded the feeble settlements under 
his charge, was only equaled by his wisdom in dealing with them 
in times of peace. He was at this time, by virtue of his ofiice 
of Governor, Superintendent of Indian Afl'airs, and as such it 
became his duty to advise with the government at Washington on 
that subject. He had long been under the impression that the 
only proper way to deal with the Indians was, as a means of paci- 
fication, to purchase their possessory rights to the lands they occu- 
pied ; to limit their hunting grounds to a narrow compass ; to 
teach them agriculture and mechanics, and provide the means for 
their instruction and religious training. The policy of the French 
and English had been to pacify them with presents of whisky 
and gew-gaws, merely for the purpose of obtaining a temporary 
foothold, to enable them to carry on the fur trade. This policy, 
of course, brought permanent settlers into the country, and those 
who were benefited by the trafiic lived thousands of miles away, 



loud driving of ox teams, indicated that something unusual had taken 
possession of these earnest settlers. The heavy logs were "switched" 
together and hewed. Then strong arms and willing hands placed them 
one upon another, until the roof was made whole. The floor was next 
" dubbed" off so as to be agreeable to little feet, for no boards could be 
had for that purpose, and this exercise completed the first school house 
in that district. The labor of the day being over, the eager inhabitants 
commenced their celebration. Then came genuine ladies, real women- 
pioneer women— with well prepared refreshments. Rude tables were 
constructed, and a wholesome collation spread out for the builders. 
When the appetite had been satisfied, the fioor was made clear and danc- 
ing commenced, which continued with a spirit until an early hour the 
following morning. 

It was in this "bee" school house that Mr. Swain received his ele- 
mentary education. This, however, was attended with its disadvantages. 
Books were scarce and difficult to obtain. For the winter's use of 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 407 

and had no interest in the permanent development of the country. 
It was clear that this was not the i:)olicy of the United States, and 
the President heartily coincided in the views expressed by General 
Cass. The result was that General Cass and General Harrison 
were intrusted with the power to treat with the Indians on the 
Miami and Wabash, and, on the twentieth of July, a treaty was 
signed with the Wyandots, Senecas, Shawnees, Miamis and Dela- 
wares, which restored comparative tranquillity to the frontiers. 

At one time, during this summer, it became necessary for Gen- 
eral Cass to send troops down the lake, to the assistance of General 
Brown, on the Niagara ; and he ordered his whole force to repair 
to the seat of war, reserving only thirty men for the defense of the 
fort at Maiden. During this defenseless state, the hostile Indians 
became bolder. Their war parties roamed the country, and 
caused much alarm and apprehension ; and the Governor found 
it necessary to call the whole adult male population to arms. 
Scouting parties were sent out in all directions, and many skir- 
mishes occurred. The Governor frequently headed these parties 
in person, and the hostile tribes were driven from place to place, 
until, finally, they retreated to Saginaw. 

In July of this year an attempt was made to recover Mackinaw. 
A force was detailed, under the command of Colonel Croghan, for 

Pike's arithmetic, he dug potatoes two days, and he husked corn four 
days for a slate. 

After graduating in tliis "bee" institution, Mr. Swain's ambition for 
further knowledge was largely increased. He often walked forty-three 
miles in a day, to and from the nearest academy, teaching school in the 
winter season, to bear his academic expenses in the summer. Through 
all these obstacles, he displayed that matchless energy characteristic of 
his life, and obtained an ample education. 

When the Erie canal was completed, a new era dawned upon western 
JSTew York. A market and highway for commerce were opened, reveal- 
ing richer tields in the great West, which he visited, and, early in 
the year 1830, he settled permanently in Michigan, to share its pioneer 
hardships, and aid in developing its great resources. In the former 
he has taken a front rank position, while in the latter he has but few 
compeers. 

His first earnings were invested in land situated near the Kalamazoo 



408 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

this purpose, with the assistance of a part of the fleet on Lake 
Erie. But the British works were too strong, and, with the 
assistance of the savages, they were enabled to hold possession. 
The establishments at St. Joseph's and at Sault Ste. Marie, how- 
ever, were destroyed. 

In the winter of 1815, the treaty of peace was ratified between 
England and the United States. The population of the Territory 
at that time was not over five or six thousand, and that population 
was spread over a vast extent, and in a state of great destitution, 
owing to the calamities of war. Scarcely a family, when it 
resumed its domestic establishment, found more than the rem- 
nants of former wealth and comfort. Families had been broken 
up and dispersed ; parents had been torn from children, and chil- 
dren from each other ; some had been slain on the battle field, 
and others had been massacred by the ruthless savages. Laws 
had become a dead letter, and morals had suffered in the gen- 
eral wreck. Agriculture had been almost abandoned, and com- 
merce paralyzed. Food, and all the necessaries of life were 
scarce, and luxuries were unknown. Money was difficult to get, 
and the bank paper of Ohio, which was almost the sole circulat- 
ing medium, was twenty-five per cent below par in New York. 
Consequently commercial transactions were precluded, except at a 
ruinous figure to the merchant and the consumer. 

river, in the southwest part of Jackson county. He added to the orig- 
inal purchase, as he acquired means by farming, surveying, civil engin- 
eering, merchandising, milling, lumbering, etc. His labors have been 
eminently successful, not only in accumulating a large fortune, but in 
developing the resources of the State. 

This biography might very justly be enlivened by a recital of 
Mr. Swain's many adventures in the pioneer days of Michigan. His 
conflicts with wild beasts and wild men, are filled with the essence of 
adventure; the hardships he has endured in "camping out" and travel- 
ing through the unexplored forests, are replete with heroic exploits, with 
man and beast, and would constitute of themselves a volume full of 
interest and instruction. But we shall pass over these, and briefly notice 
the results of his industry. 

Having failed to secure the Michigan Central ^Railroad through his 
place of business, at Concord, by a distance of four miles, he pulled up 



410 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

In this gloomy and uDpromising condition was Michigan when 
General Cass assumed the office of Governor of the Territory. 
Civil government was yet to be established, and laws enacted and 
enforced, before any permanent advancement in prosperity could 
be hoped for. His task was a delicate and difficult one. He was 
not only a part of the legislative power, but was the sole execu- 
tive. The laws which were enacted in the one capacity, he was 
obliged to execute in the other. How well he performed his task, 
the condition of the State when he resigned his office, after 
eighteen years of service, abundantly testifies. 

In 1817, General Cass made a most important treaty with the 
Indians, by which their title was extinguished to nearly all the 
land in Ohio, a part in the State of Indiana, and a portion in the 
State of Michigan. This was not only the most valuable treaty 
that had at that time been made with the Indians, but was of the 
utmost importance to the Territory of Michigan. It attached the 
isolated population of Michigan to the State of Ohio ; made the 
Territorial government, in a fuller sense, an integral part of the 
Federal Union, and removed all apprehension of a hostile con- 
federacy among the Indian tribes along the lake and river frontier. 

Up to this time there was not a road within the limits of the 
Territory, save the military road along the Detroit river. But, 

and went still farther into the dense forest, down the Paw Paw valley, 
to the present site of the village of Watervleit, in Berrien county, thus 
endeavoring to make a certainty of locating on this road. The State, 
which at that time owned the Michigan Central Road, had definitely 
located its route through this valley, with a view of making the western 
terminus on Lake Michigan, at St. Joseph. But these plans were over- 
ruled by various circumstances. The State, with the system of internal 
improvements in 1847, being nearly bankrupt, and the Michigan Central 
Railroad being completed with strap rails only as far as the village of 
Kalamazoo, sold her franchise to the present Michigan Central Railroad 
Company. This company departed from the original plan, and thereby 
left Watervleit ott' twenty miles in tlie forest. 

Notwithstanding these obstacles, Mr. Swain prosecuted his business 
enterprises in that locality with unabated energy. At Watervleit he con- 
ducted the same business already mentioned, increasing the lumbering 
branch to a considerable extent. He is still interested in the latter at the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 411 

now that the Indian settlements and lands could not be interposed 
as a barrier to the undertaking, General Cass resolved to bring 
the attention of Congress to the necessity and advantage of a 
military road from Detroit to Sandusky. He pointed out the 
peculiar political and pecuniary advantages of such an under- 
taking, and Congress immediately authorized the road to be built 
over the route indicated ; taking in its course what was known as 
the Black Swamp, then a trackless morass for teams and wagons, 
but now one of the most fertile regions of the country. 

In the summer of this year, the first newspaper published in 
Michigan was started at Detroit. It was called the Detroit 
Gazette, and was published by Messrs. Sheldon & Reed, two 
enterprising young men, who for many years, continued its publi- 
cation. 

The great problem which then occupied the minds of the author- 
ities of the Territory was how to induce a flow of immigration 
from the East. That was, indeed, a difficult question to solve — 
much more so than we can fully appreciate at this day. There 
were, as before remarked, no roads in existence leading to the 
interior of the Territory ; and no steamboats as yet vexed the 
placid bosom of the Detroit river. The difficulty was greatly 
increased by a false impression which then universally prevailed 

same place, and also in large and valuable tracts of land in that vicinity, 
and lie is now doing much to increase the value of real estate in that 
section of Michigan. 

In 1861, he commenced, under his own supervision, the erection of his 
magnificent residence at Riverside, on Fort street, near Detroit. This 
building is a fitting monument to its projector. Being one of the sub- 
stantial kind, he embodied in the construction of this residence much 
that indicates his most prominent characteristics. It is, perhaps, the 
most elegantly finished, and by far the most substantial building of the 
kind in the Northwest. Its basement and foundation are, in themselves, 
wonderful accomplishments, and from the floor of the former to the 
deck of the tower is a distance of one hundred feet. 

At the top of this tower, which is easily attained by a most magnifi- 
cent winding stairway, the observer has one of the grandest views of 
lake, river and landscape scenery in the country. The head of Lake 
Erie and much of Lake St. Clair are made plainly visible, with the most 



412 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

in regard to the character of the soil of Michigan, and its adapta- 
bility to the purposes of agriculture. It was popularly supposed 
to be the very home of disease and death, uninhabited and unin- 
habitable ; a horrible place abounding in swamps, marshes and 
lagoons, impenetrable save by means of canoes. Nor were these 
reports without high official authority to back them, as will be 
seen by the following facts : 

On the sixth of May, 1812, Congress passed an act, requiring 
that 2,000,000 acres of land should be surveyed in the then Terri- 
tory of Louisiana, and a like quantity in the Territory of Illinois, 
north of the Illinois river, and the same quantity in the Territory' 
of Michigan, iu all 6,000,000 acres, to be set apart for the soldiers 
in the war with Great Britain. Each soldier was to have 160 
acres of land, fit for cultivation. The lands were surveyed and 
appropriated under this law in Louisiana and Illinois, but the sur- 
veyors reported that there were no lands in Michigan fit for culti- 
vation. The following is that portion of the Surveyor-General's 
report which relates to the lands of Michigan : 

" DESCRIPTION OF THE MILITARY LANDS IN MICHIGAN. 

" The country on the Indian boundary line, from the mouth of 
the great Auglaize river, and running thence for about fifty miles, 

picturesque surroundings of city and country. His grounds surrounding 
the residence are not only extensive, but rich in all the beauties of garden 
landscape. 

Mr. Swain, although a man of large experience and no small literary 
attainments, is extremely simple in his manners, making himself alike 
agreeable with men in business circles, or in entertaining friends at his 
well appointed mansion. 

To a question as to whether or not he had ever iigured iu politics, Mr. 
Swain stated that he had never sought office but once in his life. He 
admits of once having had an ambition to become ' overseer of high- 
ways," brought on by the deplorable condition of certain roads in which 
he was interested, and which he desired to improve. On this occasion 
he was not elected for want of votes, and although more than a third of 
a century has passed since this defeat, he has not since been troubled 
with an appetite for office. It is not improbable, however, that he may 
have intended this answer as indicating his disapproval of the tricks of 
modern politics. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



413 



is (with some few exceptions) low, wet land, \vith a very thick 
growth of underbrush, intermixed with very bad marshes, but 
generally very heavily timbered with beech, cottonwood, oak, etc. ; 
thence continuing north, and extending from the Indian boundary 




AARON DIKEMAN. 

Aaron Dikeman, one of the representative pioneers of northwestern 
Michigan, was born in Norwalk, Fairfield county, Connecticut, January 
3, 1796. 

He lived in his native town until reaching his majority, when he emi- 
grated to New York City, and embarked in the jewehy business. He 
carried on this business in that city for twenty years, with uninterrupted 
success. 

Closing up his affairs in New York, he emigrated to Michigan, and 
settled in what is now Grand Rapids, arriving there in May, 1837. Here 



414 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

eastward, the number and extent of the swamps increases, with 
the addition of numbers of lakes, from twenty chains to two and 
three miles across. Many of the lakes have extensive marshes 
adjoining their margins, sometimes thickly covered with a species 
of pine called ' tamarack,' and other places covered with a coarse, 
high grass, and uniformly covered from six inches to three feet 
(and more at times) with water. The margins of these lakes are 
not the only places where swamps are found, for they are inter- 
spersed throughout the whole country, and filled with water, as 
above stated, and varying in extent. The intermediate space 
between these swamps and lakes, which is probably near one- 
half of the country, is with a very few exceptions, a poor, barren, 
sandy land, on which scarcely any vegetation grows, except very 
small scrubby oaks. In many places, that part which may be 
called dry land is composed of little, short sand-hills, forming a 
kind of deep basins, the bottoms of many of which are composed 
of a marsh similar to the above described. The streams are gen- 
erally narrow, and very deep, compared with their width, the 
shores and bottoms of which are (with a very few exceptions) 

he again engaged in the jewehy business, opening the first establishment 
of that kind in the State north of the Micliigan Central Railroad. Mr. 
Dikeman continued in this occupation in Grand Rapids until 1867, and dur- 
ing this long period was seldom absent a day from his bench. During this 
time he built up a large trade, established a high reputation for an honest 
business man, and, after fifty years of unremitting toil, he retired in 
May, 1867, with a fair fortune and hosts of friends as his reward. At 
the time of his retiring he was the oldest jeweler working at the trade in 
the United States, being seventy-one years of age. 

In 1855, Mr. Dikeman became largely interested in the steamboat navi- 
gation of Grand river. In that year, he built the steamer Empire, and 
run her on the lower river line between Grand Rapids and Grand Haven. 

Mr. Dikeman was elected county treasurer of Kent county, in Novem- 
ber, 1838, and the abilities with which he performed the duties of that 
office can be best adduced from the fact that he held it for three succes- 
sive terms. In 1849, he was elected supervisor of the township of Grand 
Rapids, which then included the village of Kent, now the city of Grand 
Rapids. He was chosen alderman of the third ward of that city in 
in 1852, and his public life closed with the expiration of his term of office 
as alderman. 



aiSTORY OF MICHIGAN. 4l5 

swampy beyond description ; and it is witti the utmost difficulty 
that a place can be found over which horses can be conveyed in 
safety. 

" A circumstance peculiar to that country is exhibited in many 
of the marshes by their being thinly covered with a sward of 
grass, by walking on which evinced the existence of water, or a 
very thin mud immediately under their covering, which sinks from 
six to eighteen inches from the pressure of the foot at every step, 
and at the same time rising before and behind the person passing 
over. The margins of many of the lakes and streams are in a 
similar situation, and in many places are literally afloat. On 
approaching the eastern part of the military lands, toward the 
private claims on the straights and lake, the country does not con- 
tain so many swamps and lakes, but the extreme sterility and 
barrenness of the soil continues the same. Taking the country 
altogether, so far as has been explored, and to all appearances, 
together with the information received concerning the balance, is 
so bad there would not be more than one acre out of a hundred, 
if there would be one out of a thousand that would in any case 
admit of cultivation." 

Mr. Dikeman became a member of Phcenix Lodge, No. 4, Free and 
Accepted Masons of New York city, in 1823, and he was one of the first 
oflScers and charter members of Grand River lodge, in Grand Rapids, 
Michigan. He has been indentified with this order for over fifty years, 
and enjoys tlie full esteem of his brother Masons. 

Being one of the pioneers of northwestern Michigan, he had unbounded 
faith in the future growth and prosperity of the Grand River valley, and 
he has ever worked with both his mind and means for its development. 
In its infancy, he prophesied a glorious future for it, and time has proved 
how correct his foresight was, as he now finds himself surrounded by as 
beautiful and prosperous a country as our truly great State can boast of. 

On the 14th of February, 1822, Mr. Dikeman married Miss Susanna 
Butler, of Norwalk, Connecticut, and, on the 14th of the same month, 
1872, they celebrated their golden wedding, at their residence on Fulton 
street, Grand Rapids. 

Now, at the advanced age of seventy-nine, Mr. Dikeman, in a happy 
home, with a fair fortune and surrounded by his children, grandchildren, 
and hosts of friends, is enjoying the closing years of an active and 
prosperous life. 



416 GENERAL filStORY OJ* TfiE STATES. 

Accordingly, on the twenty-ninth of April, 1816, Congress 
passed an act repealing so much of the law of the sixth of May, 
1812, as related to Michigan, and provided for taking 1,500,000 
acres in Illinois, north of the Illinois river, and 500,000 acres in 
the Territory of Missouri, in lieu of the 2,000,000 acres which 
could not be found in Michigan. 

It is difficult, at this late day, to imagine how such a report 
could have been honestly made. It is probable, however, that no 
examination worthy the name was made. Again, the fur-traders 
were interested in preventing the settlement of the country, and 
the Surveyor-General may have chosen to rely upon their state- 
ments, instead of making a thorough examination for himself. 
Be that as it may, the country, through the energy of General 
Cass, was soon, to a certain extent, undeceived ; although it was 
many years before the bad impression was eradicated from the 
minds of the people of the East. During that year and the fol- 
lowing, the country was more fully explored, and numerous tracts 
of the most fertile land, with a rolling surface, were discovered. 
Prosperity began to abound, and population to increase by immi- 
giation and settlement. When General Cass became thoroughly 
convinced of the falsity of the reports concerning the quality of 
the soil of the interior, and saw a hardy and enterprising popula- 
tion gathering around him, he called for the views of the inhabit- 
ants, in March, 1818, upon the question of changing the civil 
authority by entering upon the second grade of Territorial govern- 
ment. A vote was accordingly taken, and a majority were 
against it. But, for the purpose of facilitating emigration and 
settlement, General Cass recommended to the Secretary of the 
Treasury that the lands in the district of Detroit be at once sur- 
veyed and brought into market. The department at once acted 
upon this suggestion, and in the following September and October 
sales were made. This movement gave a new impetus to agricul- 
ture, and added greatly to the permanent prosperity of the 
country. A great change took place in public opinion concerning 
the value of these lands, and subsequent surveys more fully con- 
firmed the inaccuracy of former impressions. 

In the following year, General Cass met the Chippewas in coun- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



417 



cil at Saginaw, and concluded a treaty by which large relinquish- 
ments to lands in Michigan were obtained, embracing about six 
millions of acres. 

During the year 1819, two events occurred in the history of 




MAJOR LOWELL HALL. 

Lowell Hall, the subject of this sketch, was born in Middlesex 
county, Massachusetts, June 24, 1802. 

At the age of two years, with his parents, he emigrated to the State of 
Vermont, and, two years later, he went from there to the Black river 
country, in northern New York. Here, with such limited means as the 
country afiorded, he learned the elementary branches — studying eyenings 
by the cheerful blaze of a fire-place, in a log house. Removing from 
here, in 1815, he took up his residence in Genesee county. New York. 
27 



418 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Michigan, which may be said to have inaugurated a new era in 
her progress. The first was when the first steamboat, the Walk- 
in-the- Water, made her appearance on Lake Erie, crossing that 
lake, and passing up to Mackinaw. The second was the granting 
to the people of Michigan the privilege of electing a delegate to 
Congress. These events were great advances in the hopes and 
prosperity of Michigan. By the first, a new and valuable means 
of commercial intercourse was introduced ; and, by the latter, a 
new channel of communication was opened, through which the 
people could communicate to Congress and the national govern- 
ment their wants and situation. Again, what was, perhaps, of as 
great importance as either of the above events, further sales of 
public lands were ordered and made. This would cause settle- 
ments to be made further into the interior of the peninsula, and 
land, now studded, at long intervals, on the banks of her lakes and 
rivers, by the Frenchman's hut, or the solitary post of the fur 
trader, would soon become the sites of towns and villages, teeming 
with commerce and civilization. 

By the census taken about this time, the population of the Ter- 
ritory was ascertained to be eight thousand eight hundred and 

After a short course at the Middlebury academy, now in Wyoming 
county, he commenced teaching in tlie district schools. He followed 
this occupation for two successive winters, receiving as a salaiy twelve 
dollars per month, payable in wheat, at three shillings per bushel, and he 
was also required to " board around." 

Not satisfied with this mode of life, in 1823 he engaged as clerk in a 
village store, owned by Hon. Henry Hawkins, of Alexander, Genesee 
county. New York, with whom he remained as clerk and partner respect- 
ively for eleven years. During these years, he had acquired considerable 
wealth and married Miss Collins, of Orleans county. In 1838, his fortune 
was almost entirely swept away, through his becoming bondsman for 
men who failed. 

With an untiring energy, nothing daunted, he succeeded in organizing 
the Attica and Buffalo Railroad (a charter having been secured in 1836), 
which was the last link in the chain of railway from Albany to Buflalo. 
He was a director and secretary of this road, which was finished in 
seventeen months, and which was the best and cheapest road in the State 
at that time. 

Subsequently he procured the charter and organized the Attica and 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 419 

ninety-six. Detroit contained two hundred and fifty houses, and 
fourteen hundred and fifty inhabitants, not including the garrison. 
The island of Mackinaw, which continued to be the central mart 
of the fur trade, had a stationary population of four hundred and 
fifty, which occasionally increased to not less than two thousand, 
by the Indians and fur traders who resorted there from the upper 
lakes. The settlement at the Sault Ste. Marie contained fifteen 
or twenty houses, occupied by French and English families. 

The ordinance of 1787 provided that lot number sixteen in every 
township should be set apart for the support of common schools, 
but as yet no measures had been taken to establish any system of 
public instruction in Michigan. The act drawn up by Judge 
Woodward, however, and passed by the governor and judges, in 
1817, must be excepted. But this was of no practical value at 
that time, although it deserves mention as a curiosity, if nothing 
more. The act referred to was for the establishment of what was 
styled in it the Catholepestemiad, or University of Michigan. The 
University was to have thirteen didaxia, or professorships, each 
of which was to be endowed in the most liberal manner. It 
was designed, undoubtedly, to lay the foundation for a thorough 
education, both broad and deep ; but, at that early date, was 

Hornellsville road, now the New York and Erie, and over which fifty 
trains are now passing daily. 

In 1855, he came to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the interest of the 
Detroit and Milwauliee Railroad, and continued with it until its com- 
pletion. 

During the rebellion, Mr. Hall was actively engaged in raising troops, 
and, in the winter preceding its close, at the advanced age of sixty-three, 
he accepted an unsolicited commission and entered the service, where he 
remained until peace was declared, when he was mustered out, having 
been breveted major for meritorious services. 

Returning home, he organized and was elected president of the Grand 
Rapids and Lake Shore Railroad, which is now consolidated with the 
Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore. Following the completion of the 
above road, he organized the Grand Rapids and Saginaw Railroad, of one 
hundred miles in length, and nearly an air line. Mr. Hall is the presi- 
dent of this organization, and now, at the age of seventy-one, is as 
actively and energetically engaged in its construction as he was in 
those with which he was connected thirty years ago. 



420 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ridiculously impracticable. Judge Woodward, its author, would 
seem to have been endowed by nature with fair abilities and to 
possess extensive acquirements ; but, at the same time, to have a 
fatal tendency towards impracticable schemes, and to lay out his 
work on such a magnificent scale, as to preclude the possibility of 
its completion. It is to him that Detroit is indebted for the early 
plan of the city, laid out in the form of a cobweb. His classical 
mind was pleased with the idea of a Campus Martins, and a 
Grand Circus, with avenues radiating in every direction from a 
grand center, with cross streets connecting them, and grand pub- 
lic squares and parks interspersed. The result was, a plan so 
vast in extent, and so complex in design, that centuries would be 
required to fill it. His plan for a University was on an equally 
magnificent scale ; and the act was clothed in language more 
suited to the learned professors of the law^ of five centuries ago, 
than to the practical backwoodsman of 1817. 

Michigan was now rapidly increasing in population. Roads 
were being built, and the sound of the woodman's axe was heard 
in every direction. Settlers were extending themselves along the 
Rivers St. Clair, Raisin, and Huron ; and settlements were made 
where now stand the cities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Jackson, 
Tecumseh and Pontiac. But they were not yet free from the 
annoyance of the Indians. The Foxes and Sacs annually made 
their appearance to receive thousands of dollars of presents from 
the British agents at Maiden. It was no unfrequent occurrence 
for them, as they passed along, to commit depredations upon the 
property of the whites. This annual tribute also had a tendency 
to create and strengthen an attachment and sympathy between the 
Indians and the British government. It became obvious, then, 
that some measures were necessary to put a stop to this custom, 
and to remove the Indians as far as possible from British influ- 
ence, so annoying to the settlers even in time of peace, and in 
time of war so dangerous. Besides, the country situated upon the 
borders of the upper lakes was then but little known, and it was 
desirable that a more intimate knowledge of its characteristics 
and resources should be in possession of the general government. 
Accordingly, in the fall of 1819, General Cass directed the atten' 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 



421 



tion of the government at Washington to the matter, and set 
forth the reasons why an exploration should be made. Among 
the important objects were : To obtain a more thorough knowl- 
edge of the resources of the country ; a more intimate acquaint- 




JAMES SCRIBNER. 

Associated with the early history of Grand Rapids, stands prominent 
the name of James Scribner, who was born in the city of New York, 
in the year 1801. 

Going to sea at an early age, he was taken prisoner in his fourteenth 
year, by the British frigate Endymion, and carried to Halifax, Nova 
Scotia, where he was retained three months. Returning to the United 
States, two years later, he enlisted among the Sea Fencibles, and was 
stationed at the Narrows, near New York. 

With the close of the war, he was apprenticed to a boot and shoe 
maker, but at the age of seventeen, he changed his occupation and 



422 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ance with the Indians ; a knowledge of their moral condition, 
their numerical strength, and of their feelings towards the United 
States, and to obtain a cession of the lauds in the vicinity of the 
Straits of St. Mary's, Prairie du Chien, Green Bay, and open the 
communication between the latter places. Another important 
object was to ascertain the extent of the mineral deposits in the 
vicinity of Lake Superior. It was also desirable to explain to the 
Indians the views of the government respecting their annual visits 
to Maiden, and to announce to them that these visits must be dis- 
continued ; to ascertain the state of the British fur trade within 
our jurisdiction ; and, above all, to " carry the flag of the United 
States into those remote regions where it had never been borne 
by any person in a public station." 

These were the principal reasons urged by General Cass for 
desiring the expedition to be set on foot. But the government 
decided that it would be inexpedient to obtain any further extin- 
guishment of the Indian title, except ten miles square at the 
Sault Ste. Marie, for military purposes, and of some islands, near 
Mackinaw, where beds of plaster had been found to exist. 

It will readily be perceived by the intelligent reader that difier- 
ent motives relative to the matter actuated the government and 
General Cass. The former only looked to the necessity for mili- 
tary defense, whilst the latter was filled with a desire to benefit 
the people of his Territory, and to secure its permanent advance- 
shipped on a vessel bound for the Shetland Islands. Leaving the vessel 
on the coast of Brazil, he traversed the southern and western coasts of 
South America, and the western coast of Central America, making him- 
self familiar with the Spanish and Portugese languages and visiting all 
important points between Valparaiso and San Francisco. 

In 1820, he crossed the Pacific to China, and returned by the way of 
the Cape of Good Hope to Rio Janeiro, from whence he sailed across the 
Atlantic to Cadiz, Spain. Leaving his ship here, he traveled across Spain 
by land and reshipped at Gibraltar, from whence he sailed to Bordeaux, 
France. Here he was detained a year by sickness, and upon his recovery 
he visited Italy, Turkey and the northern coast of Africa. 

Having now ch'cumnavigated the globe, visited the four quarters of 
the earth, and made himself familiar with the French, Spanish, Portu- 
gese and Italian languages, so as to speak them fluently, he returned to 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 423 

ment and prosperity. The government, however, sanctioned the 
fitting out of the expedition for the purposes named, and ordered 
a topographical engineer, a mineralogist, and a physician, to join 
it. It also provided it with an escort of soldiers, all to be under 
the guidance and direction of General Cass. 

The expedition was viewed at the time as the most important 
ever undertaken under the auspices of the government. It was 
to travel in birch canoes, which, combining lightness with strength, 
could be readily carried over portages, and bear considerable bur- 
dens when afloat. 

The names of the party were as follows : General Cass, and 
Robert A. Forsyth, his private secretary ; Henry R. Schoolcraft, 
mineralogist ; Captain D. B. Douglass, topographer and astron- 
omer ; Dr. Alex. Wolcot, physician ; James D. Doty, official sec- 
retary, and Charles C. Trowbridge, assistant topographer. Lieut. 
Evans Mackey was commander of the escort, which consisted of ten 
United States soldiers. Besides these, there were ten Canadian 
voyageurs, to manage the canoes, and ten Indians, to act as hunters. 
The latter were under the direction of James Riley and Joseph 
Parks, who were also to act as interpreters. 

On the twenty-fourth day of May the party left Detroit. The 
banks of the river were lined with people, who cheered the depart- 
ing expedition with the greatest enthusiasm. They passed up 
nine miles to Grosse Point, and landed, in consequence of a storm. 

New York city, at the age of twenty-three, and went into the boot and 
shoe business. 

Mr. Scribner emigrated to Michigan in 1836, and made Detroit his 
home for some months, while he was visiting different parts of tlie State 
to decide upon a place for a permanent location. His choice fell upon 
Grand Rapids, and he removed there in the winter of 1836-7 and pre- 
emted a tract of land on the west side of the river. There being 
conflicting claims to the property, he spent several years in securing a 
perfect title. Succeeding in this, he platted it and placed it in the 
market. By almost giving away lots, he drew settlers to the west side of 
the river, and this tract of land is now an important part of the city of 
Grand Rapids, and one of the principal avenues bears Mr. Spencer's 
name. 

In connection with Mr. E. Turner, he built the first bridge at Grand 



424- GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

and did not proceed further till mid-day of the twenty-sixth. On 
the sixth of June, they reached Michilimackinac, having coasted 
along the shore the whole distance, and been detained several 
days, in consequence of storms and rainy weather. When they 
reached this place, they were saluted from the fort by the firing 
of guns, and the inhabitants turned out en masse to bid them wel- 
come. They spent eight days on this island, recuperating, and 
when they took their departure, twenty-two soldiers, under the 
command of Lieutenant John S. Pierce, were added to the party. 
The expedition now numbered sixty-four persons. They left the 
island on the fourteenth of June, and reached the Sault Ste. 
Marie on the evening of the sixteenth, and encamped for the night 
on the bank of the river. 

This place was the seat of government of the Chippewas, and 
had been occupied as a military and trading post from an early 
period of the settlement of Canada. Under the treaty of Green- 
ville, made in 1795, a reservation was made, covering any gifts 
or grants of land in the Northwest Territory, which the Indians 
had formerly made to the French or English, and this reservation 
had been renewed and confirmed by subsequent treaties. The 
United States now claimed these concessions which had formerly 
been made to the French, and General Cass proposed to hold 
a council for settling the boundaries of the grant, and by that 

Rapids, at Bridge street (the piers of which are still standing and in use), 
on contract with the State for six thousand acres of land. In 1848, we 
find him associated with Mr. A. B. Turner, in the publication of the 
Grand River Ecigle. 

His public spirit and personal enterprise identified him with many 
projects, some of which were eminently successful, and others were 
doomed to end in disappointment. One of the prominent enterprises in 
which he was a leading and moving spirit — the Grand Rapids and 
Indiana Railroad — he did not live to see completed. 

Weary with the mental labors of forwarding extensive projects, he 
spent the last few years of his life in ordinary business. 

Mr. Scribner was a man of commanding presence, jolly, frank and 
social in his manner, and was known as a warm friend, but an uncom- 
promising enemy when he felt himself or friends injured. His death 
occurred on the 2d of October, 1803. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



425 



means obtain an acknowledgment, and a renewal of the conces- 
sion. 

Accordingly, the next day, the council assembled at the mar- 
quee of the Governor. The chiefs were arrayed in their grandest 




HON. R. M'CLELLAND. 

Robert McClelland was born on the first day of August, 1807, at 
Green Castle, Franklin county, Pennsylvania. Among his ancestors 
were several officers of rank in the war of the revolution, and some of 
his family connections also distinguished themselves in the war of 1812, 
and in that with Mexico. 

His father was an eminent physician and surgeon, who studied his 
profession under Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia, and practiced it 
with great success until six months before his death, when he was eighty- 
four years of age. 



426 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

habiliments, and, besides the usual profusion of feathers, they 
made a conspicuous display of the medals which they had from 
time to time received from the British government. They entered 
the marquee, seated themselves with all their native dignity, and 
opened the council with the ceremony of smoking the pipe of 
peace. This ceremony over, the object of the council was 
explained to them. They paid the strictest attention to the inter- 
preter's speech, but it was evident at once that it was not well 
received. Many of them replied, and expressed strong opposi- 
tion to the proposed reoccupancy. They at first pretended igno- 
rance of the former grants to the English and French ; but were 
soon pressed from that position by a recurrence to facts of which 
they could not pretend to be uninformed. The talk soon became 
desultory, and it was evident that they disagreed among them- 
selves. Some were willing to adjust the boundaries, providing no 
military garrison was to be established there. They suggested a 
fear that if it was so occupied, their young men might prove 
unruly, and kill the hogs and cattle that might stray from the gar- 
rison. This was construed by General Cass into a threat, and he 

Altliougli the family of Mr. McClelland had been in good circum- 
stances, yet, at the age of seventeen, he was thrown upon his own 
resources, and had thereafter to rely upon them. 

After passing through the usual course of preliminary study, and 
teaching school to obtain the means, he entered Dickinson College, Car- 
lisle, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated, among the first in his 
class, in the year 1829. He then recommenced his school teaching, and 
went through the usual course of law study and was admitted to the 
bar, at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in the year 1831. Soon afterwards, 
he removed to the city of Pittsburgh, where he vigorously prosecuted 
his profession for almost a year. His early success at the bar was such 
as is usual with young practitioners of fair promise. 

In the year 1883, Mr. McClelland removed to Monroe, in the Territory 
of Michigan, where, after passing through a very severe examination, 
8uch as a committee with Hon. A. D. Fraser, then in full practice, at its 
head, would be likely to give, he became a member of the bar of Michi- 
gan, and entered upon the practice here. The early years in the law 
profession furnish a " hard road to travel," but Mr. McClelland found it 
as easy, with prospects as bright, as the fortunate aspirants in the pro- 
fession usually find it. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 427 

at once informed them, in a dignified tone and manner, that the 
establishment of a garrison at that place was irrevocably settled, 
and that, as sure as the sun set in the west, the United States 
would send a garrison to that place, whether the grant was 
renewed or not. This decisive language had its desired effect, and 
at once brought matters to a crisis. High words now passed 
between the Indians themselves. Shingabowassin, the head chief 
of the band, a tall and stately chieftain, counseled moderation. 
Shingwauk, who had been on the war path in 1814, advocated 
extreme measures. The last who spoke was Sassaba, a tall, mar- 
tial looking chief, wearing a British uniform, and said to hold the 
rank of brigadier-general in the British army. At the close of 
his speech he assumed a look of savage wildness, struck his war 
lance furiously into the ground, and, retaking it, left the marquee, 
spurning the presents which had been laid before him. This 
brought the council to a summary close, and the Indians retired 
to their encampment, and the Americans to their tents. 

As soon as the Indians reached their encampment, they raised 
the British flag, and, confident of their invincibility, owing to 

In 1835, a convention was called to frame a constitution for the pro- 
posed State of Michigan. Mr. McClelland was elected a member of this 
convention. He took a prominent part in its deliberations and ranked 
among its clearest-headed and ablest debaters. After this, he still con- 
tinued in the practice of his profession at Monroe, and was engaged in 
most of the important litigations in that part of the country. 

He was appointed the first bank commissioner of the State, by Gover- 
nor Mason, and was offered the attorney -generalship, but declined both 
of these offices. 

In the year 18B7, he was married to Miss Sarah E. Sabin, of Williams- 
town, Massachusetts. He has had six children, three of whom now 
survive. 

In the year 1838, he was elected a member of the State Legislature, in 
which he soon became distinguished as the head of several important 
committees, speaker pro tempoi'e, and as a very active and eflficient 
member. 

In the year 1840, General Harrison, as candidate for the presidency, 
swept the country by an overwhelming majority, and at the same time 
the State of Michigan was carried by the Whig party, under the popular 
cry of " Woodbridge and reform," against the Democratic party. 



428 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

their superiority in numbers, they indulged in acts of the grossest 
insolence. Matters were now brought to a crisis, and a conflict 
seemed inevitable. Only one act could avert it and that act it 
required the sublimest courage to perform. But General Cass was 
equal to the emergency. He instantly ordered the expedition 
under arms, and, calling to his interpreter, he proceeded, unarmed 
and alone, to Sassaba's lodge. On reaching it, he indignantly 
tore down the British flag, trampled it under his feet, and, turning 
to Sassaba, told him that the hoisting of that insulting flag was 
an indignity which would never be tolerated on American soil. 
He then proceeded to say that the United States were the natural 
guardians and friends of the red man, and desired to act justly by 
them, and to promote their comfort and happiness ; that the flag 
was the emblem of national power, and that two national flags 
could not fly in friendship over the same territory ; and that the 
red man must not raise any but the American, and that, if they 
again did it, the United States government would set a strong foot 
upon their necks, and crush them to the earth. He then returned 
to his own quarters, taking the offending flag with him. 

At this time, Mr. McClelland stood among the acknowledged leaders 
of the latter party, was elected a member of the State House of Repre- 
sentatives, and, with others, adopted a plan to regain a lost authority 
and prestige. This party soon came again into power in the State, and 
Mr. McClelland being again returned to the State Legislature, his leader- 
ship was acknowledged by his election as speaker of the House of Repre- 
sentatives, in the year 1843. 

Down to this time, Michigan had constituted one congressional district. 
The late Hon. Jacob M. Howard had been elected to Congress against the 
Hon. Alpheus Felch, by a strong majority; but, in 1843, so thoroughly 
had the Democratic party recovered from its defeat of 1840, that Mr. 
McClelland, as candidate for Congress, carried Detroit district by about 
2,500 majority. 

Mr. McClelland soon took a respectable stand in Congress among the 
oldest veterans of that body. During his first term, he was placed on 
the committee on commerce and originated what were known as the 
harbor bills, and carried them through. 

The continued confidence of his constituency was manifested in the 
fact, that he was reelected to the Twenty-ninth Congress by a strong 
majority. At the opening of this Congress, he had acquired a national 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 429 

This act of bravery had its desired effect, and the Indians were 
completely overawed. They respect courage, in friend or foe. 
Expecting so decisive an act to be followed by an instant attack, 
the Indians at once cleared their camp of women and children, 
and prepared for battle. The expedition also looked for a con- 
flict, and held themselves in readiness, expecting every moment 
to hear the wild war-whoop. But moderate counsels prevailed 
among the Indians ; and, before the day passed, a better feeling 
existed among them, and Shingabowassin renewed negotiations. 
Before nightfall a treaty was signed, ceding four miles square, and 
reserving the perpetual right to fish at the rapids of the river. 
This treaty was signed by all the chiefs save Sassaba, the warlike 
chieftain whose violent conduct so nearly brought on a conflict. 

The next day, the seventeenth of June, the expedition resumed 
its journey, and launched their canoes upon the waters of Lake 
Superior. On the twenty-first they reached the Pictured Rocks, 
which consist of a series of lofty bluffs, extending along the south- 
ern shore of the lake for several miles, and presenting some of the 
most curious, sublime, and commanding views in nature. On the 

reputation, and so favorably was he known as a parliamentarian, that 
his name was mentioned for speaker of the House of Representatives. 
He declined, however, in favor of Hon. John ,W. Davis, of Indiana, who 
was elected. In this term, he was placed at the head of the committee 
on commerce, in which position his reports and advocacy of important 
measures at once attracted public attention. The members of this com- 
mittee, as an evidence of the esteem in which they held his services, and 
of personal regard for him, presented him with a beautiful cane, which 
he now retains as a souvenir of the donors and of his labors in Congress. 
So strong was the favor in which he was held by his constituency, that 
at the election of 1847, he was reelected for a third term to Congress, not- 
withstanding the two term principle had then become one of the standing 
rules of party discipline. At the opening of the Thirteenth Congress, he 
was placed on the committee on foreign relations by the Hon. Mr. 
Winthrop, Whig speaker of the House of Representatives. He continued 
to justify the confidence which was thus reposed in him, while he 
remained a member of Congress. As a member of the committee on 
foreign relations, what was known as the French spoliation bill came 
under his special charge, and his management of the same was such as 
to command universal approbation. 



430 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

evening of this day they came across a band of Chippewas, and 
were welcomed to their lodges. The Indians proved to be friendly 
and hospitable, and entertained the expedition with songs and 
dancing. On the twenty -fifth of June they left Lake Superior, 
ascended Portage river, and returned home by way of Lake Mich- 
igan, after having traveled over four thousand miles. 

The results of this expedition were, a more thorough knowledge 
of a vast region hitherto almost unknown in its important charac- 
teristics ; a fund of valuable knowledge respecting the numbers 
and disposition of various tribes of Indians ; several important 
Indian treaties, by which valuable lands were ceded to the United 
States ; a more accurate topography of the vast region watered 
by the great lakes ; a knowledge of the operations of the North- 
west Fur Company, and the selection of sites for a line of military 
posts. 

In the meantime, as before mentioned, public lands had been 
brought into market, and sold, in most instances, to actual settlers. 
The sales of this and the subsequent year gave a new impetus 
to the rising destinies of the Territory. As yet, however, the 

While in Congress, Mr. McClelland was an advocate of the right of 
petition, as maintained by the distinguished John Q. Adams, when the peti- 
tion was couched in decorous language, and presented in a proper 
manner. This, he regarded as a constitutional right of the citizen, 
which should not be impaired by any doctrines of temporary expe- 
diency. He also voted for the reception of Mr. Giddings' bill for the 
abolition of slavery in the district of Columbia. 

Mr. McClelland was one of the few Democratic associates, about 
eighteen in number, of David Wilmot, of Pennsylvania, in bringing for- 
ward for adoption by Congress and the country the celebrated " Wilmot 
Proviso," with a view to jirevent the further extension of slavery in new 
territory, which might be acquired by the United States. He and Mr. 
Wilmot messed together at the time in Washington, and were on intimate 
and confidential terms. 

He was in several national conventions, and in the Baltimore conven- 
tion which nominated General Cass for the presidency in 1848, and did 
valiant service in that year in favor of the election of that distinguished 
statesman to the high position for which he had been selected. 

On leaving Congress, in 1849, Mr. McClelland returned to his practice 
in Monroe. In 1850, a convention of the State of Michigan was called 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 431 

great want of the people was roads, and but few had been con- 
structed. What few there were in existence were in a miserable 
condition, and almost impassable for the traveler. Congress was 
appealed to, and responded in a liberal manner. Bills were 
passed and appropriations made for opening the road between 
Detroit and the Miami river, for the construction of a road from 
Detroit to Chicago, a road from Detroit to Fort Gratiot, and for 
the improvement of La Ploisance bay. 

The system of surveys of the public domain was carried into 
the Territory. Two straight lines were drawn through the center 
of the Territory — east and west, north and south. The north and 
south line was called the principal meridian, and the line east and 
west was called the base line. The Territory was then divided 
into townships, six miles square, and the townships were subdi- 
vided into sections, a mile square. These townships were then 
numbered, increasing from the meridian and base lines. By this 
means mathematical accuracy was obtained in the surveys, and 
the system of marking divisions and subdivisions furnished unmis- 
takable evidence of the true boundaries of each tract surveyed. 

to revise the State Constitution. He was elected a member, and was 
regarded therein as among the ablest and most experienced leaders. His 
clear judgment and wise moderation were conspicuous, both in the com- 
mittee room and on the floor in debate. 

Mr. McClelland was an advocate of the great compromise measures of 
Mr. Clay, and, while a member of the constitutional convention, in 1850, 
attended a large meeting of the friends of those measures at the State 
capitol, where he was active in giving form to a series of resolutions, 
which were adopted in favor of the so called compromise measures. 

In the fall of 1850, he was a member and president of a Democratic 
State convention, which, with his cordial approval, also adopted resolu- 
tions in support of tlie compromise meastires. But the anti-slavery agita- 
tion was too strong to be arrested by any such means. It finally took 
four years of civil war and desolation, to settle the slavery question in 
the United States. 

He was in the Democratic national convention of 1853. In that year, 
he, in company with General Cass and Governor Felch, made a thorough 
canvass of the State. The pending political issues were thoroughly 
discussed, and he continued a strong advocate of the Clay compromise 
measures. He took an active part generally in the canvass which 



432 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

In 1821 there was still a tract lying south of Grand Rirer that 
had not been added to the United States, and it became necessary 
once more for Governor Cass to negotiate with the Indians. 
Accordingly, in the summer of that year, he embarked in a birch 
canoe for another long journey over stream and portage. The 
route selected, it is needless to say, was different from the one that 
is usually traveled to-day. The place he desired to reach was 
Chicago, and the route was as follows: Leaving Detroit, he 
descended to the mouth of the Maumee river. He ascended that 
river and crossed the intervening country to the Wabash, and, 
descending that stream to the Ohio, proceeded down the Ohio to 
the Mississippi river ; ascended that river to the Illinois, and 
thence by that river to Chicago. It was a long, lonely and cir- 
cuitous voyage, and is mentioned for the purpose of reminding 
the reader of the difficulties and hardships encountered by our 
early pioneers, and to show what changes a half a century has 
wrought. 

The American commissioners were General Cass and Judge 
Sibley, of Detroit. Here an incident occurred which illustrates 
in a striking manner one of the peculiar phases of Indian charac- 

resulted in the election of General Pierce to the presidency over General 
Scott. 

In 1851, the new State convention took effect, and it was necessary 
that a governor should be elected for the short term of one year, in order 
to prevent an interregnum, and to bring the State government under the 
new constitution into operation in harmony with the old one. Mr. 
McClelland was elected as Governor, and then, in the fall of 1852, he was 
reelected for the term of two years from the first of January, 1853. His 
administration as Governor was regarded as wise, prudent and concilia- 
tory, and it was as popular as could be expected at a time when party 
spirit ran high. There was really no opposition to it, and when he 
resigned, in March, 1853, the State treasury was full to overflowing, and 
the State was otherwise prosperous. 

So thoroughly and favorably had Mr. McClelland become known as a 
national statesman, that on the organization of the Cabinet by President 
Pierce, in March, 1853, he was invited to take the position of Secretary 
of the Interior, a place which he filled during four years of the Pierce 
administration most creditably. 

He carried into the Cabinet his genial temperament and his conciliatory 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 433 

ter. As a preliminary step to the negotiations, the commissioners 
ordered that no spirits should be given to the Indians, and 
informed them that " the bungs were driven into the barrels." 
This was a serious matter in the eyes of these thirsty sons of the 
forest, and forthwith a deputation of chiefs waited upon the com- 
missioners to remonstrate. At the head of the deputation was an 
aged chieftain, on whose head the frosts of nearly a hundred win- 
ters had rested, but who was still, as will be seen, in the full pos- 
session of his mental faculties, and physically well preserved. 
The commissioners urged every argument to convince him of the 
propriety of the course they had adopted, but all to no purpose. 
"Father," said the hoary-headed chief, when he was urged to 
remain sober and make a good bargain for his people, " Father, 
we do not care for the land, nor the money, nor the goods. What 
we want is whisky. Give us whisky." But the commissioners 
were inexorable, and the Indians were forced to content them- 
selves. A treaty was finally entered into by which nearly all the 
country within the bounds of Michigan, south of Grand river, 
and not before ceded, was granted to the United States. 

Soon after the return of the commissioners to Detroit, Gover- 

spirit. He thoroughly reorganized his department, reduced the expen- 
ditures, adopted a course with tlie Indians which relieved them from the 
impositions and annoyances of the traders, produced harmony and 
extended civilization among them, and during his administration there 
were no complaints by, and no outbreaks in the different tribes; there was 
no corruption among agents, and none in any of the bureaus. No parti- 
san distinctions were made among the clerks, and merit alone was 
regarded in making promotions. No censure or complaint was made 
from partisan or other sources. His intercourse with all was courteous 
and indulgent, and when he left the department it had been brought into 
perfect order and system. He had otherwise performed its duties to the 
entire satisfaction of the President and his fellow-members of the Cabinet, 
as well as to the public at large. 

In 1867, Michigan again called a convention to revise the State Consti- 
tution. Mr. McClelland was a member, and here again his long and tried 
experience made him conspicuous as a prudent adviser, and as a sagacious 
parliamentary leader. 

As a lawyer, he was terse and pointed in the argument of law ques- 
tions, and clear, candid and forcible in his addresses to juries. His great 
28 



434 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

nor Cass was called upon to exercise the pardoning power in two 
cases of murder. The novelty of the cases impels a mention 
of them in this volume. Two Indians, named respectively 
Ketawka and Kewabiskim, had been tried by the Supreme Court 
of the Territory, and found guilty — one for the murder of Dr. 
Madison, of the United States Army, and the other of the mur- 
der of a trader at Green Bay. An application was made to the 
Governor to pardon them. The attitude of our relations with the 
Indians at the time rendered the decision of the question some- 
what embarrassing. Besides, it was well known to the Governor 
that the British, who were seeking every opportunity to foment 
quarrels between the Indians and our people, would take advan- 
tage of the execution of the murderers, and endeavor to excite 
the savages to fresh atrocities against the peaceful settlers of the 
Territory. Another consideration which had some weight in the 
mind of the Governor was that higher or more certain evidence 
of malice aforethought should be required in the case of a savage. 
Some time elapsed before the decision was made, but finally the 
conclusion was arrived at that the evidence was too clear to allow 
of executive interference, and the law was allowed to take its 
course. 

sincerity and earnestness, with wliicli he occasionally intermixed a pleas- 
ant humor and a light playfulness, showing his complete mastery of his 
subject, were sure to carry most doubtful cases in his favor. 

In his political addresses before the people, he was especially forcible 
and happy. The arrangement of his argument was natural, and, going 
directly to the strong points in his favor, and to the weak points of his 
adversary, he could carry his audience with him on most occasions. 

In private party consultations, he was always regarded as a prudent 
and safe adviser, urging"an avoidance of all extremes, and the pursuit of 
the golden mean, as the surest way to success. 

In the year 1870, being in private life, he made the tour of Europe, 
which, through his extensive learning, and his personal acquaintance 
with many of the European diplomats, he was well calculated to relish 
and enjoy as few tourists are enabled to do. 

Mr. McClelland is a genial companion, a good neighbor, an earnest 
friend, and his great experience and extended knowledge of men and 
public officers enables him to observe with deep interest the great pano- 
rama of public events, and enjoy all the attractions of private life. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 435 

December twenty-fifth, 1821, was the day fixed for the execution 
of the prisoners. They met their fate with the stoical indifierence 
which it is the pride of the Indian to exhibit when his fate is 
sealed, and resistance out of the question. After their own cus- 
toms, they prepared to meet their fate. They laid aside, as an 
ofiering to the Great Spirit, all the tobacco, pipes, and such other 
articles as they were possessed of. They drew a piece of leather 
over their drinking vessel, thus forming a kind of drum, around 
which, after painting their faces black, they danced their death 
dance and sang their death song. They drew upon the prison 
walls, in red paint, rude figures of men, beasts and reptiles. On 
their blankets they painted a representation of the execution of 
an Indian by hanging. The gallows was erected in plain view of 
their prison window, and they were informed that it was for their 
execution. But the sight excited no expression of dread or fear 
of death. They had resolved to die, as their fathers had died, 
heroically, and with no exhibition of emotion or weakness. When 
the day of execution arrived they were as stoical as ever, and 
ascended the platform with the utmost firmness and comjDosure. 
When the fatal moment arrived, they shook hands with their 
counsel and others who stood near, and asked pardon of the peo- 
ple for the crime they had committed. Then, shaking hands with 
each other, the black caps were drawn over their faces, and, hand- 
in-hand, they passed over to the happy hunting grounds. 

The following year it became necessary, so rapid was the settle- 
ment of the country going forward, to create six new counties. 
These extended from the head of Lake Erie, parallel with the 
Detroit river and Lake St. Clair, towards Saginaw Bay. The 
counties thus laid out were Lapeer, Sanilac, Saginaw, Shiawassee, 
Washtenaw and Lenawee. Public travel also began to increase, 
and for the first time in the Territory a stage line was established. 
This line of stages ran from Detroit to the county seat of Macomb 
county, connecting with the steamer Walk-in-the- Water. 

In 1823, Congress passed an act changing the form of the Terri- 
torial government. This act abrogated the legislative power of 
the Governor and Judges, and established a Legislative Council, to 
consist of nine members. These members were to be appointed 



436 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate, out of eighteen candidates elected by the 
people of the Territory. This council and the Governor of the 
Territory were invested with the same powers which had been 
before granted by the ordinance of 1787 to the Governor, Legis- 
'lative Council and House of Representatives of the Northwestern 
Territory. By this law the term of a judicial office was limited to 
four years, and eligibility to office required the same qualifications 
as the right of suffrage. 

This act met the cordial approbation of the people of the Ter- 
ritory. They were now invested with a more compact and ener- 
getic government. An interest was awakened in the minds of the 
people in the affairs of their government, and they began to 
experience that sensation of citizenship which underlies the growth 
and prosperity of all civilized communities. 

The first Legislative Council convened under this act met for the 
first time at the council house at Detroit, on the seventh day of 
June, 1824. Governor Cass then delivered his message, briefly 
reviewing the progress of the Territory since his administration 
commenced, and marking out what he considered the proper line 
of policy in its existing condition. Amongst other matters to 
which the Governor called the attention of the council was that of 
schools and education — a subject not so much discussed or gener- 
ally appreciated as since. 

In the course of this year Governor Cass called the attention of 
the general government to the mineral resources of the Lake 
Superior country, and askgd that steps might be taken to procure 
from the Indians the privilege of exploring and mining in that 
country. In compliance with this recommendation, the Senate 
passed a bill conferring authority on the President to appoint a 
commissioner to treat with the Indians for this purpose. The 
House, however, refused to concur; but at the next session of 
Congress the bill passed both Houses. This was the first legisla- 
tion which led to the commencement of mining operations on 
Lake Superior. 

In November, 1826, the council again convened. During that 
session they were called upon to consider a question which, sev- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



437 



eral years after, threatened to embroil the Territory in an armed 
conflict with the State of Ohio. This was in reference to the 
dividing line between Michigan and the contiguous States of Ohio, 
Indiana, and Illinois. A discussion of this question, is, however, 
more properly reserved for a future chapter. 




M. V. BORGMAN. 

Martin V. Borgman, who has efficiently discharged the duties of 
superintendent of the metropolitan police department of Detroit since 
1866, was born in Minster, Ohio, in 1838. 

At the age of twenty he visited Michigan, and in 1861 he was among 
the first citizens of Detroit who volunteered to serve the State in the 
Union army to suppress the rebellion. He entered as a private, and three 
years later returned with the honors of first lieutenant. Soon after his 
return he was appointed by the board of police commissioners to the 
position of captain of the Detroit police force, an appropriate recognition 



438 . GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

In the meantime, a change had been made in the manner of 
selecting the minor officers of the Territory. All the county 
officers, save those of a judicial character, were made elective by 
the people, and all executive appointments were required to be 
approved by the Legislative Council. An act was also passed 
empowering the Governor and council to divide the Territory into 
townships, to incorporate the same, and to define their rights and 
privileges. 

The country was now rapidly increasing in wealth and popula- 
tion. A new impetus had been given to the growth of the whole 
Northwest, by the opening, in 1825, of the Erie canal from the 
Hudson river to Buffalo. The effect of the completion of this mag- 
nificent enterprise was to cheapen transportation, and give to the 
West the foreign merchandise of which it stood in need, at a 
greatly reduced price. At the same time it had the effect of 
enhancing the price of the agricultural products of the West in a 
still greater proportion. Consequently, lands increased in value, 
and new facilities and new motives were offered for settlement. 
The Walk-in-the- Water was now found too slow and of insuffi- 
cient capacity to accommodate the travelers and their goods over 
the rough waters of the lakes. To accommodate this increase, the 
Henry Clay, and other steam vessels, were built. To meet the 
increasing demand for land, new surveys were made, and large 
tracts of laud thrown upon the market. Capital began to flow in 
and seek investment in the fertile acres which were thrown open 
for settlement. Improvements, local and general, were made ; 
the small settlements began to swell into villages ; public edifices 
and private mansions were projected and built ; the echo of the 

of his services in the war. Subsequently, Superintendent Drake tendered 
his resignation, whicli was accepted by the board, and thus devolved 
upon Captain Borgman the functions of that official station, in addition 
to the duties of his own office. His deportment under these trying cir- 
cumstances was highly commendable, and secured his promotion to the 
high station of superintendent soon after Mr. Drake's resignation, in 1866. 
Since that time Mr. Borgman has continued in the same responsible 
office, and enjoys to-day the entire support of the police board, with the 
confldence and esteem of the whole public. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 439 

woods was supplanted by the busy hum of commerce ; and rich 
fields of golden grain, and other products of agricultural industry, 
were to be seen on every hand, and were harvested and shipped 
to the sea-board. Michigan now began to be considered the asy- 
lum and the retreat for all who would better their fortunes by 
industry. It was, indeed, a country where honest industry was 
sure to be rewarded by a competence, and eventual wealth. The 
hardy pioneers scattered all over the country ; the stroke of the 
woodman's axe made the ancient woods resound, and the smoke 
of their cabins everywhere ascended from the depths of the forest. 
The lakes and rivers presented a no less busy scene. The white 
wings of commerce were spread upon their waters, and the black 
smoke of mighty steamers, like a portentous cloud, stretched 
along the horizon. The reign of nature in these mighty forests 
had ended — the reign of man had begun. 

In the meantime, in order to meet the claims of the increasing 
population of the Territory, new privileges of a political charac- 
ter had been granted them. The Legislative Council was increased 
to thirteen members, to be chosen by the President from twenty- 
six selected as candidates by the people. This change was made 
in 1825. In 1827 an act was passed authorizing the electors to 
choose their representatives directly, without the further sanction 
of either the President or Congress. The power of enacting laws 
was given to the council, subject, however, to the approval of 
Congress, and the veto of the Governor of the Territory. Upon 
this footing the government of the Territory remained until the 
organization of the State government. 

The prosperity of the Territory continued to increase from this 
time forward; and it is but simple justice to say that to the wise 
and beneficent administration of Governor Cass this unexampled 
growth is to be, in a great measure, attributed. It would be 
unjust, however, to omit the just praise to which his counselors 
are entitled. William Woodbridge, particularly, who was the 
Secretary of the Territory during the administration of Governor 
Cass, and acting governor during the absence of the chief execu- 
tive, is entitled to great credit for the ability and untiring zeal 
with which he performed the arduous duties of his office. He was 



440 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

also the Territorial delegate to Congress during a portion of the 
time, and ably represented his constituency in that body. He 
was a man of great culture and refinement, and strictly honorable 
and conscientious in his official and private life. He retired from 
the office of Secretary of the Territory in 1828, when he was suc- 
ceeded by James Witherell, who held the office two years, and 
was succeeded by the appointment of General John T. Mason 
of Kentucky. 

In 1831, Governor Cass was appointed Secretary of War in the 
Cabinet of President Jackson, and he thereupon retired from the 
office of Governor of Michigan, having served in that capacity 
for the period of eighteen years. He had been appointed six 
times, running through the presidency of Madison, Monroe, and 
John Quincy Adams — without a single representation against 
him from the people in all that time, or a single vote against 
him in the Senate. He had, in the meantime, faithfully dis- 
charged his duties as Indian Commissioner, and had concluded 
nineteen treaties with the Indians, and acquired large cessions in 
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan. The people 
of the Territory fully appreciated his worth at the time, as was 
more than once manifested in after years. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



The Administration op Governor Porter — The Black Hawk War 
— Construction of Roads— The First Railroad Company Organ- 
ized — Banks Chartered — Common Schools Organized — Change 
IN THE Method op Disposing op Public Lands — Death of Gov- 
ernor Porter. 

Upon the elevation of General Cass to a seat in the cabinet of 
President Jackson, and his consequent resignation of the office of 
Governor of the Territory of Michigan, General George B. Por- 
ter, of Pennsylvania, was appointed governor. This occurred in 
July, A. D. 1831, and Governor Porter entered upon the dis- 
charge of the duties of his office on the twenty-second of the fol- 
lowing September. The population of the Territory at that time 
amounted to about thirty-five thousand. 

The administi-ation of Governor Porter presents but few points 
that possess attractions for the pen of the historian. It was a 
time of almost profound peace. The terrible wars which had 
devastated the country in former years were over. The Territory 
was on the high road to prosperity and affluence. The arts of 
peace alone were cultivated. It is at such times that States grow 
to greatness, such as wealth and population can give ; but it is 
the tale of hardships, struggles, bloodshed and rapine that fills the 
pages of a nation's history. Fortunately for Michigan, the long 
struggle for the mastery of her soil was now practically ended, 
and the attention of her people and her rulers was directed to the 
promotion of her material advancement and the development of 
her resources. The only war cloud that appeared above the hori- 
zon during the administration of Governor Porter was what is 
known as the Black Hawk war; but this was confined, in its 
effects on Michigan, more to that part of the Territory now con- 
stituting the State of Wisconsin, than to the peninsula. Gover- 



442 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

nor Porter, however, cooperated with the executives of the States 
of Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, and furnished militia from the 
western part of the Territory to aid in punishing the savages. 
The campaign was short and decisive, and ended in the unquali- 
fied submission of the hostile party, and in the adoption of meas- 
ures for the permanent security of the frontier. Treaties of 
cession were formed with the Winnebagoes, and the Sacs and 
Foxes, by which the Indian title was extinguished to all the coun- 
try south of the Ouisconsin and east of the Mississippi, and to an 
extensive region west of that river. 

During Governor Porter's administration, Wisconsin, which 
had before been annexed to Michigan, was erected into a separate 
Territory. In the meantime the commerce on Lake Erie was 
rapidly increasing. Many new townships were organized, and 
roads were constructed into the interior. In looking over the 
records of that time, it is found that in the year 1832 alone there 
were roads constructed, or authorized by the Territorial council 
as follows : From Point du Chene to the Fort Gratiot turnpike, 
from Battle Creek to the mouth of the Kalamazoo river, from a 
point on the Chicago road to the county seat of Calhoun county, 
from Pontiac to Ann Arbor, from Southfield to Detroit, from 
Rochester to Lapeer, from Pontiac to Adrian, from Vistula to 
Indiana, from Branch county to the mouth of the St. Joseph's 
river, from Ten Eycks to the principal meridian, from Ecorse to 
the Chicago road, from Jacksonburgh to the mouth of the St. 
Joseph's river, and from Monguagon to St. Joseph's. In conse- 
quence of these improvements, the country became better known, 
a spirit of speculation became awakened, and, in addition to the 
actual settlers, there were hundreds of speculators traversing the 
woods in search of eligible lands, which they purchased and held 
for an increase in value. The same year the Legislative Council 
passed an act to provide for the establishment and regulation of 
common schools. An act was also passed incorporating " The 
Lake Michigan Steamboat Company," with a capital of forty 
thousand dollars. The names of the corporators were, James 
Abbott, Oliver Newberrj^ Benjamin F. Larned, B. Kercheval, 
John Palmer, and Reynold Gillett. The Legislative Council of 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



443 



that year is also entitled to the credit of having passed the first 
act of incorporation under which a railroad company was organ- 
ized in Michigan. This was the act incorporating the Detroit and 
St. Joseph Railroad Company. The names of the commissioners 




JOHN P. ALLISON. 

John P. Allison, a prominent business man of East Saginaw, was 
born in the town of Haverstraw, Rockland county, in the State of New 
York, April 15, 1817. 

At an early age, he removed to New York city, and from there emi- 
grated to Michigan, in June, 1854, taking up his residence in East 
Saginaw, then but a small village. In his journey from New York, Mr. 
Allison traveled by railroad and boat to Detroit, and found the accom- 
modations for travelers in those days far diflFerent from what they are at 



444 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

were John Biddle, John R. Williams, Charles Lamed, E. P. 
Hastings, Oliver Newberry, De Garmo James, James Abbott, 
John Gilbert, Abel Millington, Job Gorton, John Allen, Anson 
Brown, Samuel W. Dexter, W. E. Perrine, William A. Thomp- 
son, Isaac Crary, 0. W. Golden, Caleb Eldred, Cyrus Lovell, Cal- 
vin Brittain, and Talman Wheeler. The State reserved the right 
to purchase the road at its original cost and fourteen per cent 
interest. The act also contained the following provision : 

" Said corporation, hereby created, shall have power to con- 
struct a single or double railroad, from the city of Detroit to the 
mouth of the St. Joseph river, commencing at Detroit, and pass- 
ing through, or as near as practicable to the village of Ypsilanti 
and the county seats of Washtenaw, Jackson, Calhoun, and Kala- 
mazoo, with power to transport, take and carry property and per- 
sons upon the same, by the power and force of steam, of animals, 
or of any mechanical, or other power, or of any combination of 
them." 

It also provided that the road should be completed within thirty 
years. As this road was the one now known as the Michigan 
Central Railroad, it is needless to add that the latter condition 
was complied with. The same council also passed an act incor- 
porating the " Bank of the River Raisin," with a branch at Pon- 

present. From Detroit lie went to Pontiac by rail, and from there he 
traversed the remainder of his journey to East Saginaw by the old 
fashioned stage-coach. 

Arriving at East Saginaw, he soon afterwards became engaged in the 
manufacture of lumber (an occupation that pretty much everybody in 
that region was interested in at that time), and has since built up a vast 
and lucrative trade in that commodity. 

Mr. Allison was also an early adventurer in the saline experiments of 
the Saginaws, and was the second person to produce a good article of 
merchant salt. He likewise enjoys the reputation of being one of the 
pioneer farmers of the Saginaw valley, having, at an early day, cleared 
up and placed under good cultivation a large farm near the city of East 
Saginaw, upon which he now resides. 

Mr. Allison's character is such as to command the respect and esteem 
of his fellow-citizens, and his industry, enterprise and integrity are well 
worthy of emulation by the young men of the country, who by their 
own exertions expect to attain positions of honor and trust. 



HI8TOEY OF MICHIGAN. 



445 



tiac. This was the third bank established in the Territory. Pre- 
vious to this the Bank of Michigan (1817), with a branch at Bron- 
son, had been incorporated, and also, in 1829, the Farmers' and 
Mechanics' Bank of Michigan, with a branch at St. Joseph's. 




COUNTRY RESIDENCE OF W. W. BACKUS. 

The above engraving represents the country residence of Mr. W. Wood- 
bridge Backus, grandson of the late William Woodbridge. It is situated at 
Grosse Point, about eight miles above Detroit, and commands an exten- 
sive view of the beautiful Lake St. Clair, the great highway of the 
nation's commerce. Grosse Point is rapidly becoming the favorite 
locality for the summer residences of the wealthy citizens of the metrop- 
olis. In salubrity of climate, beauty of scenery, proximity to the city of 
Detroit, and all that goes to make a desirable country-seat, it already 
stands without a rival. 

The earliest settlers were French, many of whom were men of high 
social and political standing in la belle France, but who emigrated to this 
country to seek a home free from the terrible political strifes which con- 



446 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

The same council authorized a vote of the inhabitants to be 
taken on the question of organizing a State government, and ask- 
ing admission into the Union. A vote was accordingly taken on 
the first Tuesday of October of that year, which resulted in a 
small majority in favor of the measure. But the vote was exceed- 
ingly light, and a question arose as to whether it really represented 
the sentiments of the majority of the people, or not. Governor 
Porter, in his message, recommended that, in view of the facts, 
another vote should be taken ; but he was overruled by the coun- 
cil, and a memorial was sent to Congress, setting forth the facts, 
and praying for action by that body. It does not appear, however, 
that the petition was considered, as it was not till two years after- 
wards that serious measures were taken to secure a State organiza- 
tion. 

vulsed their native land. They readily appreciated and seized upon this 
lovely spot, and made it their home. The descendants of one or two 
families retain to this day the original letters patent granted by the 
unfortunate Louis XV. Grosse Point is rich in historical incident. It 
was the place most resorted to by the numerous tribes of Indians as their 
place of meeting to make. their treaties with each other and smoke the 
pipe of peace. It was there that the fierce and warlike tribes, the Sacs 
and the Foxes, fought their last and most sanguinary battle, a battle 
which resulted in the extermination of the first mentioned tribe. The 
little creek on whose banks this battle was fought took its name from the 
victors, a name which it still retains. Near this place is Presque Isle, 
where the lighthouse now stands. That locality was held by the Indians 
in sacred veneration, from tlie fact of its being the burial place for the 
numerous tribes inhabiting this portion of the lower peninsula. It was 
also the rallying point for Pontiac and his confederated tribes during the 
terrible war which he waged against Detroit. 

Around Mr. Backus' residence are many of the oldest landmarks, mak- 
ing the place truly historical. In the front garden, as will be seen by the 
engraving, are numerous apple and pear trees, ranging from one hundred 
and fifty to two hundred years old. With the hammock stretched 
beneath the branches of these venerable old trees, and the breeze from 
Lake St. Clair gently fanning the whole neighborhood, there is no more 
healthy or delightful spot in Michigan. Mr. Backus resides in this beau- 
tiful home during the summer months, and when the chilly winds of 
autumn render the place too cold for comfort he retreats to his city resi- 
dence, on Fort street west. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 447 

About this time a change was made in the manner of disposing 
of the public lands, which was of great benefit to the settlers in 
the West. Previous to the year 1820, the price of government 
land was two dollars an acre. One-fourth of this was to be paid 
down at the time of purchase, and the remainder in three annual 
installments. The land was subject to forfeiture if these payments 
were not promptly met. A discount was allowed, however, of 
eight per cent, if the whole amount was paid in advance. This 
system was found to be productive of serious evils. The hope of 
gain induced many to make large purchases. Some, it is true, 
realized large fortunes, while others, whose judgment was not so 
good, were left without the means of paying when their payments 
became due, and their lands were consequently subject to forfeit- 
ure. This led to a total change of the system. The price was 
reduced to one dollar and a quarter an acre, and the whole was 
required to be paid at the time of purchase. This was attended 
with the desired effects. It prevented much loss to the govern- 
ment, saved a great deal of trouble, discouraged reckless specula- 
tion, and enabled the honest and industrious settler, with moderate 
means, to acquire a clear and unincumbered title to his lands. 

On the sixth day of July, 1834, the office of Governor became 
vacant, by the death of Governor Porter. By the provision of 
law for the government of the Territory in case of the death, 
removal, resignation, or necessary absence of the Governor, the 
Secretary of the Territory was required to execute the powers and 
perform all the duties of Governor during the vacancy. The 
functions of the office, consequently, devolved upon the Secretary, 
Stevens T. Mason. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



The Organization of a State GovERNsrENT — The Boundary Ques- 
tion — THE Toledo War — Incidents and Accidents — Settlement 
OF THE Question — Admission of Michigan into the Union. 

The ordinance of 1787 provided that the Northwest Territory 
should be divided into not less than three States, nor more than 
five, as Congress should determine. Three States had already 
been formed from that Territory, viz : Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. 
By that ordinance, and subsequent acts of Congress, conferring 
upon Michigan the benefits contained in its provisions, Michigan 
was entitled to admission into the Union as a State so soon as her 
free white population numbered sixty thousand. In 1834, Michi- 
gan took the preliminary steps to secure for herself the rights to 
which she claimed to be entitled. On the sixth of September of 
that year, the Legislative Council passed an act directing a census 
to be taken. The result showed that there were 87,273 free white 
inhabitants in the Territory. At the next session of the Council, 
in January, 1835, an act was passed authorizing a convention to 
be held at Detroit, on the second Monday of May following. 
This convention was composed of eighty-nine delegates. It met 
ui^on the day specified, and continued in session till the twenty- 
fourth of June. A Constitution was formed and submitted to the 
people in the October following, and by them adopted. At the 
same election, a full set of State ofiicers and a legislature were 
elected to act under the Constitution. In November following, 
the legislature met, and the whole machinery of a State govern- 
ment was set in motion. Stevens T. Mason, the Secretary of the 
Territory, and acting governor after the decease of Governor Por- 
ter, was the Governor of the new State. 

In the meantime, the diflBculty in- reference to the southern 
boundary of the Territory was rapidly approaching a crisis. To 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



449 



give a full and complete history of this difficulty, and relate all 
the incidents, ludicrous and otherwise, that occurred during the 
progress of the contest, would require a volume. The most that 
can be done in the space allotted is to give the leading facts con- 
nected with it. 




HON. GEORGE VAN NESiS LOTHROP. 

The name which heads this brief article is a familiar one in every 
town of this State, and widely known throughout the entire Northwest. 
Except for the sudden political revolution w^hich swept the West during 
the last dozen years, and which still liolds the great majority of the people 
beneath the sway of its opinions, the nanie and abilities of Mr Lothrop 
would doubtless ere this have had a national renown. But having in early 
life identified himself with the Democratic party, and this organization 
having commenced decay shortly after Mr. Lothrop entered that period of 
29 



450 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

The origin of this dispute was not dissimilar to the causes 
which produced the several State and colonial contentions for 
boundary among the original States of the confederacy, all of 
which arose either from ignorance of local geography, the unap- 
preciated importance of the incipient colony, or an unpardonable 
disregard of the sacredness of vested rights. In consequence of 
these loose notions, or inadvertence to rights once granted, char- 
tered rights were frequently conferred by the Crown of England 
to one company, and at a succeeding day the same territory was 
included in the charter of another. 

Michigan claimed for her southern boundary a line running 
east across the peninsula from the extreme southern point of Lake 
Michigan, extending through Lake Erie, to the Pennsylvania 
line. This she claimed as a vested right — a right accruing to 
her by compact. This compact was the ordinance of 1787, the 
parties to which were the original thirteen States, and the Terri- 
tory northwest of the Ohio ; and, by the succession of parties 
under statutory amendments to the ordinance and laws of Con- 
gress — the United States on the one part, and each Territory 
northwest of the Ohio, as far as affected by their provisions, on the 
other. Michi^^an, therefore, claimed under the prior grant, or 
assignation of boundary. 

Ohio, on the other hand, claimed that the ordinance had been 

his life when his talt'jnts began to make him conspicuous among his fel- 
lows, the opportunity \ for his political distinction narrowed with every 
year. His friends, however, with a passionate devotion rivaling that 
which inspired the enthusiastic followers of Henry Claj^ clung liopefully 
to him, and repeatedly and persistently thrust him forward as their 
chosen leader for congressional honors. Believing him without a peer 
in point of professional a )ility as well as in native talent, they bade him 
lead the forlorn hope ol' their party through several successive and 
desperate campaigns imm sdiately preceding the outbreak of the war. 
With a gallantry and an imtiring zeal peculiar to men of his tempera- 
ment, he flung himself into the strife and did brave battle for the 
standard under which he fought. But as those familiar with the rising 
political tide of that period in the country's history well remember, such 
a combat was like unto a man iWtling against the billows of the ocean. 
Not he only, but his entire party passed into tlie minority^, and have 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 451 

superseded by the Constitution of the United States, and that Con- 
gress had the right to regulate the boundary. It was also claimed 
that the Constitution of the State of Ohio having described a 
different line, and Congress having admitted the State under that 
Constitution, without mentioning the subject of the line in dispute. 
Congress had thereby given its consent to the line as laid down by 
the Constitution of Ohio. This claim was urged by Ohio at some 
periods of the controversy, but at others she appeared to regard 
the question as unsettled, by the fact that she insisted upon Con- 
gress taking action in regard to the boundary. Accordingly, we 
find that, in 1812, Congress authorized the Surveyor-General to 
survey a line, agreeably to the act, to enable the people of Ohio 
to form a Constitution and State government. Owing tc Indian 
hostilities, however, the line was not run till 1818. In 1820, the 
question in dispute underwent a rigid examination by the com- 
mittee on public lands. The claim of Ohio was strenuously urged 
by her delegation, and as ably opposed by Mr. Woodbridge, the 
then delegate from Michigan. The result was that the committee 
decided unanimously in favor of the claim of Michigan ; but, in 
the hurry of business, no action was then taken by Congress, and 
the question remained open till Michigan organized her State gov- 
ernment. 

In order to show more clearly the grounds upon which Michi- 

remained outside of active political life ever fince. Many of Mr. 
Lothrop's friends, however, well knowing his great abilities, his varied 
culture, his unspotted integrity, his public spirit, and his extraordinary 
gifts as a public debater and orator, although opposed to him in their 
political faith, nevertheless sincerely desired to see him in the councils of 
the nation. Even though in opposition to the dominant party, they 
would have been glad if his superior gifts could even thus have been 
given to the nation at large. But so strong were his political preferences 
(or perhaps we should rather say connections), that while scores of men 
were leaving the ranks of the Democratic party and attaching their 
fortunes to the new organization then rising rapidly into popular favor, 
he preferred to "fling away ambition," a^ud give himself loyally, faith- 
fully, absolutely to the profession of his/ choice. "The law," some old 
black-letter writer says, ," is a hard mistress," and, we doubt not, Mr. 
Lothrop, as he looks back over his severe and constant labors at the bar 



452 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

gan based her claims, the following recited acts will be of interest : 
The ordinance of 1787 "for the government of the territory 
of the United States northwest of the River Ohio," declares the 
acts therein contained " articles of compact between the original 
States and the people and States in said territory, and forever to 
remain unalterable, unless by common consent." This ordinance 
defines the territory to include all that region lying north and 
northwest of the Ohio and east of the Mississippi rivers. In 
the fifth article it is provided that there shall be formed not less 
than three nor more than five States within its confines. The 
boundnries of the three States are defined so as to include the 
whole territory ; conditioned, however, that if it should be found 
expedient by Congress to form the one or two more States men- 
tioned, Congress is authorized to alter the boundaries of the three 
States " so as to form one or two States in that part of the said 
territory which lies north of an east and west line drawn through 
the southerly bend, or extreme of Lake Michigan." 

The first act touching this point, is an act of Congress passed in 
1802, enabling the people of Ohio to form a Constitution. The 
boundary of that State is declared to be, " on the north by an 
east and west line drawn through the southerly extreme of Lake 
Michigan, runni'ug east, after intersecting the due north line afore- 
said from the momth of the Great Miami, until it shall intersect 

for the last thirty yea.rs (the record of which will be found in the twenty- 
eight volumes of our iMichigan Reports from the first to the last), will be 
inclined right heartily to indorse the sentiment. 

With a mind of rare^ native strength, clear in its perceptions, naturally 
inclined towards metaphysical studies (often wandering into stealthy 
indulgences of this sor't), yet never allowing his pursuit of them to 
bear him away from a sure anchor-hold on the ground of common 
sense; gifted with a beauty and fluency of speech that permits us with- 
out exaggeration to characterize his eloquence as certainly Ciceronian if 
not Attic ; with a memo.iy stored with more than ample gleanings, 
gathered not only in the iQeld of his profession, but also in those of 
philosophy and letters, as wei'll as the various branches of natural science, 
he seems to be not only well Lnit lavishly furnished with all tlie various 
endowments calculated to build' up and make a man of power; and this he 
is. This, too, we believe all his* friends and contemporaries readily con- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 453 

Lake Erie, or the Territorial lijie, and thence, with the same, 
through Lake Erie, to the Pennsylvania line." The Constitution 
of Ohio adopted the same line, with this condition : " Provided, 
always, and it is hereby fully understood and declared by this con- 
vention, that if the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan 
should extend so far south, that a line drawn due east from it 
should not intersect Lake Erie, or, if it should intersect Lake Erie 
east of the mouth of the Miami river, then, in that case, with the 
assent of the Congress of the United States, the northern bound- 
ary of this State shall be established by, and extend to, a direct 
line, running from the southern extremity of Lake Michigan to 
the most northerly cape of the Miami bay, after intersecting the 
due north line from the mouth of the Great Miami, as aforesaid, 
thence northeast to the Territorial line, and by said Territorial line 
to the Pennsylvania line." 

At the next session of Congress the Constitution of Ohio was 
submitted to that body, and referred to a committee of the House, 
which reported that, " as the suggested alteration was not submit- 
ted in the shape of a distinct proposition, by any competent 
authority, for approval or disapproval, it was not necessary or 
expedient for Congress to act on it at all." And it was not acted 
upon until another disposition was made of it, as we shall see, in 
1805. The proposition was considered by all parties concerned, to 

cede him to be — nay, more, the writer of this article does not hesitate to 
assert that his professional brethren throughout the State, without detract- 
ing from the merits of others, would and do already unite to crown him 
primus inter pares — the leading lawyer of this State. As such, he is 
justly entitled to a page in this volume, and being still in his prime, it is 
the hope of his friends that even yet in the upturnings and overturnings 
of modern politics, the State, if not the nation at large, may be awarded 
in some judicial or other administrative position, some of the advantages 
of his great learning and thorough culture. 

A sketch of his life would give his birth at Easton, Bristol county, 
Massachusetts, on the 8th day of August, 1817. His early years were 
spent upon his father's farm. After an academical course, he entered 
Brown University, and graduated under its distinguished president, Dr. 
Francis Wayland, in the year 1838. In the fall of the same year, he 
entered the law school of Harvard University, then in charge of Judge 



454 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

be of a distinct character, requiring the special consent of Con- 
gress to make it a valid part of the Constitution of Ohio ; and 
that it had ever been so regarded by Ohio, her repeated applica- 
tion to Congress for the right of extending her boundary to the 
proposed line would seem to demonstrate. 

Again, the third section of the act of 1802 provides that all 
that part of the territory lying north of this east and west line, 
shall be " attached to,_^and make a part of, the Indiana territory." 
Again, the act of 1805, entitled " an act to divide the Indiana 
territory into separate governments," erects Michigan into a sep- 
arate Territory, and defines her southern boundary to be " a line 
drawn east from the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan, 
until it intersects Lake Erie." 

In a legal point of view, this would seem to have settled the 
question, even if, as Ohio claimed, the ordinance had no binding 
effect, having been superseded by the Constitution. The " con- 
sent of Congress" had not been given 'to the line conditionally 
proposed by the Constitution of Ohio. On the contrary, the dis- 
sent of Congress would seem to have been clearly expressed by 
this act. 

The territory in dispute is about five miles in width at the west 
end, and about eight miles in width at the east end, and extends 

Story and Professor Greenleaf. In the summer of 1839, being somewhat 
out of health, he abandoned for a time the study of the law, and in the 
fall of that year came out to Prairie Ronde, in Kalamazoo county, Mich- 
igan, where his brother, the Hon. Edwin H. Lothrop (then and since a 
man of note in our State politics and government), owned and cultivated 
a very extensive and beautiful farm. Here, for the next two or three 
years, he spent most of his time engaged in practical farming, and in 
building up his health. In the spring of 1843, he came to the city of 
Detroit, and resumed the study of the law in the otBce of Joy & Porter, 
then prominent members of the Detroit bar. The first case he ever 
argued in a court of record, was the celebrated one of the Michigan 
State Bank vs. Hastings and others. 1st Doug. (Mich.) Rep., 225. This 
argument was made before the supreme court, and prior to Mr. Lothrop's 
admission to that court; the court, on motion of Mr. Joy, having granted 
special leave for Mr. Lothrop to open the case. So ably was the case pre- 
sented by the youthful student, that the members of 'the court did not 



HTSTORY OF MICHIGAN. 455 

along the whole northern line of Ohio, west of Lake Erie. The 
line claimed by Michigan was known as the " Fulton line," and 
that claimed by Ohio was known as the " Harris line," from the 
names of the surveyors. The territory was valuable for its rich 
agricultural lands ; but its chief value consisted in the fact that 
the harbor on the Maumee river, where now stands the flourish- 
ing city of Toledo, was included within its limits. The town 
originally bore the name of Swan Creek, afterwards Port Law- 
rence, then Vistula, and then Toledo. What gave the possession 
of this harbor more importance at this time was the fact that it 
was the proposed terminus of the Wabash and Erie canal. The 
early settlers acknowledged their allegiance to Michigan ; but, 
when the canal became a possibility, and its termination at Toledo 
being dependent upon the question whether or not it was within 
the State of Ohio, many of the inhabitants became suddenly con- 
vinced that they had all along been residing in the wrong State. 
Others, it is said, became convinced that Ohio was a much more 
healthy State than Michigafi, and, consequently, they coveted the 
change which would remove them from the former State to the 
more salubrious regions of the latter. The feeling among the 
inhabitants, however, was far from unanimous, and, during the 
struggle, partisans of each State were found in Toledo who would 
communicate the plans and movements of the other. 

hesitate open]3^ to express their admiration at the effort, and to predict 
for him a successful and brilliant future. This prediction, it is hardly 
necessary to say, has been more than fulfilled in the student's subsequent 
professional career. 

In the spring of 1844, he commenced practice in the city of Detroit, 
having formed a co-partnership with D. Bethune Duffield, Esq., which 
continued until the close of the year 1856. 

In the month of April, 1848, he was appointed attorney-general of the 
State (in place of Hon. Edmund Mundy, then raised to the bench of the 
supreme court), and continued to hold the office until January, 1851. 
About this time, in connection with the controversy over the public 
schools which suddenly broke forth in the city of Detroit, Mr. Lothrop 
took a prominent part in the organization of an independent ticket, the 
object of which was to rally the popular vote in support of our free 
school system. So earnestly did he enlist in this good work, that he was 



456 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

As we have before remarked, the approaching organization of 
the State goverment invested the disputed question with pressing 
importance ; and hostilities on the disputed territory soon became 
active. In February, 1835, the Legislature of Ohio passed an 
act extending the jurisdiction of the State over the territory in 
question ; erected townships, and directed those townships to hold 
elections and elect officers in April following. It also directed 
Governor Lucas to appoint three commissioners to survey and 
re-mark the Harris line ; and named the first of April as the day 
to commence the survey. Acting Governor Mason, however, 
anticipated this action on the part of the Ohio Legislature, sent 
a special message to the Legislative Council, apprising it of the 
contents of Governor Lucas' message, and advised immediate 
action by that body to anticipate and counteract the proceedings 
of Ohio. Accordingly, on the twelfth of February, the council 
passed an act making it a criminal ofiense, punishable by a heavy 
fine, or imprisonment, for any one to attempt to exercise any offi- 
cial functions, or accept any office within the jurisdiction of 
Michigan, under or by virtue of any authority not derived from 
the Territory, or the United States. On the ninth of March, 
Governor Mason wrote to General Brown, then in command of the 
Michigan militia, directing him to hold himself in readiness to 
meet the enemy in the field in ease an attempt was made on the 

placed upon tlie ticket as recorder and most triumpliantly elected to that 
(tfBce. The citizens of Detroit, iu this particular struggle and triumph, 
owe Mr. Lothrop a debt of gratitude whicli ought never to be forgotten 
so long as a free school building stands within the city limits. Nor is 
this the only occasion, when in times involving the security of the public 
welfare, Mr. Lothrop has come resolutely forward in support and defense 
of the people's wishes. Perhaps no man ever lived among us, who in 
such times was clothed with such large power to lead and influence the 
masses in the right direction as Mr. Lothrop. 

As already intimated in this article, he was twice the Democratic candi- 
date for Congress in the first district, once in the year 1856 and again in 
1860, and on both occasions defeated. Twice he received the votes of 
the Democratic members of the State legislature for the United States 
Senate, but that party not being then in the ascendency, the votes were 
of no eflect. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 457 

part of Ohio to carry out the provisions of the act of the Legis- 
lature. On the thirty-first of March Governor Lucas, with his 
commissioners, arrived at Perrysburgh, on their way to commence 
resurveying the Harris line. He was accompanied by General 
Bell and staff, of the Ohio militia, who proceeded to muster a 
volunteer force of about six hundred men. This was soon accom- 
plished, and the force fully armed and equipped. The force then 
went into camp at Fort Miami, to await the Governor's orders. 

In the meantime, Governor Mason, with General Brown and 
staif, had raised a force eight hundred to twelve hundred strong, 
and were in possession of Toledo. General Brown's staff con- 
sisted of Captain Henry Smith, of Monroe, Inspector ; Major J. J. 
Ullraan, of Constantino, Quartermaster; William E. Broadman, 
of Detroit, and Alpheus Felch, of Monroe, Aids-de-camp. When 
Governor Lucas observed the determined bearing of the Michigan 
braves, and took note of their numbers, he found it convenient to 
content himself for a time with "watching over the border." 
Several days were passed in this exhilarating employment, and 
just as Governor Lucas had made up his mind to do something 
rash, two commissioners arrived from Washington on a mission of 
peace. They remonstrated with Governor Lucas, and reminded 
him of the consequences to himself and his State if he persisted in 
his attempt to gain possession of the disputed territory by force. 

He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1867, and the 
records of its debates afford abundant evidence of the learning and pro- 
fessional ability he brought before that body. 

In 1873, he was appointed by the Kepublican Governor, John J. 
Bagley, a member of the constitutional commission, assembled under his 
administration, but the appointment was respectfully declined. 

For upwards of twenty years past, Mr Lothrop has been the general 
attorney of the Michigan Central Railroad Company, and still continues 
to be their adviser. He is also the trusted adviser of many other corpor- 
ations of the State, and enjoys the universal confidence of the people of 
Michigan, not as a lawyer alone, but as a public man, and as a private 
citizen. 

In the limits prescribed to the writer of this article, no opportunity is 
given for even an allusion to the more private virtues and social qualities 
of the subject of this notice — and perhaps it is well that it is so. No 



458 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

After several conferences with both governors, the commissioners 
submitted the following propositions for their consideration : 

" 1st. That the Harris line should be run and re-marked, pur- 
suant to the act of the last session of the Legislature of Ohio, 
without interruption. 

" 2d. The civil elections under the laws of Ohio having taken 
place throughout the disputed territory, that the people residing 
on it should be left to their own government, obeying the one 
jurisdiction or the other, as they may prefer, without molestation 
from the authorities of Ohio or Michigan, until the close of the 
next session of Congress." 

Governer Lucas at once accepted the propositions, and dis- 
banded his forces, affecting to regard the arrangement as having 
been made with the President, and regarding Governor Mason as 
a subaltern, subject to the control of the President, through the 
commissioners. 

Governor Mason, on the other hand, refused to accede to the 
arrangement, and declined to compromise the rights of his people 
by a surrender of possession and jurisdiction. When Governor 
Lucas disbanded his forces, however. Governor Mason partially 
followed suit, but still held himself in readiness to meet any emer- 
gency that might arise. 

Governor Lucas now supposed that his way was clear, and that 

man, while he lives, especially one such as has here been sketched, can 
tolerate a public presentation of his more private walks and ways. 
Nor is it necessary. All know what attractiveness there is in him for his 
fellow-citizens; and how they love to listen and linger about him in his bril- 
liant moments, whether as the presiding officer of some public banquet, 
in the forum of the courts while standing in defense of some poor, 
trembling prisoner, on the rostrum in the midst of a turbulent sea of 
excited citizens, or in the quiet circle, where lawyers, judges, politicians, 
editors and men of scholarly ease and culture incline to gather about 
him and share his unpremeditated and eloquent discourse. 

We close our article as we opened it, characterizing Mr. Lothrop as a 
man of power, and expressing the hope that he may long remain in the 
Northwest, an ornament to his profession, an aid to his fellow citizens, 
and a source of strength to his country at large. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN 



459 



he could re-mark the Harris line without being molested, and 
ordered the commissioners to proceed with their work. 

President Jackson, meantime, had applied to Attorney-General 
Butler for his opinion concerning the power of the President over 




HON. R. A. HAIRE. 

Robert A. Haire was born in the township of Bombay, Franklin 
county, New York, July 30, 1836. 

He removed with his parents to western New York, in 1841, and settled 
near the city of Rochester, from whence he emigrated to Michigan, with 
his father's family, in 1844, settling near Marshall. They remained in 
this locality only two years, and then took up their residence in the 
vicinity of Grand Rapids. 

Mr. Haire received a thorough common school education, and is a 
graduate of the Grand Rapids commercial college. 



460 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the contending parties. In reply, Mr. Butler gave it as his 
unqualified opinion that the act of the Legislature of Ohio, 
extending the jurisdiction over a part of the Territory of Michigan, 
was "repugnant to the act of Congress of the 11th of January, 
1805, creating that Territory, and to the acts subsequently passed 
for its government, and its actual and complete enforcement would, 
therefore, involve a most serious violation of the laws of the United 
States." He also gave it as his opinion that the act of the Michi- 
gan Legislative Council was a valid law, and could properly be 
enforced. 

Notwithstanding this, Governor Lucas ordered his men to pro- 
ceed to run the line, commencing at the northwest corner of the 
disputed tract. In the meantime. Governor Mason kept a watch- 
ful eye upon the proceedings. General Brown sent scouts through 
the woods to watch their movements, and report when operations 
were commenced. When the surveying party got within the 
county of Lenawee, the under-sheriff of that county, armed with 
a warrant, and accompanied by a posse, suddenly made his appear- 
In 1852 he removed to the eastern part of Ottawa county, near Grand- 
ville, and engaged in the lumbering trade. 

In August, 1868, he enlisted as supernumary second lieutenant in the 
Fifth Michigan Cavalry, then being organized at Detroit, and started 
for the front in December, 18(53. Mr. Haire participated in the battle 
of Gettysburg and nearly all the subsequent battles in which the army of 
the Potomac was engaged, and was one of the five hundred men chosen 
by General Kilpatrick, and placed under Colonel Dahlgren, in March, 
1864, for the purpose of capturing Richmond and liberating the Union 
prisoners; and, for gallantry in this battle, he was promoted to first lieu- 
tenant. He was also with General Sheridan during the Shenandoah cam- 
paign, and for meritorious service was raised to the rank of captain, in 
December, 1864. During a portion of the winter of 1864-5, he had 
command of his regiment, and, at the close of the war, was immediately 
mustered out. 

Returning home, he settled in Spring Lake, Ottawa county, and at 
once engaged in the manufacture of lumber, being now a member of the 
firm of Haire, Savidge & Cutler. 

In the fall of 1872, he was chosen to represent his district in the lower 
house of the State legislature, and served with considerable distinction 
in that body during the session of 1872-3. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



461 



ance, and succeeded in arresting a portion of the party. The 
rest, including the commissioners, took to their heels, and were 
soon beyond the disputed territory. They reached Perrysburgh 
the following day in a highly demoralized condition, and reported 




E. H. TURNER. 

Eliphalet Haskins Turner was born on the 5tli of October, 1795, 
in the village of Plattsburgh, in the State of New York. His father, 
Colonel Ezra Turner, served in the war of 1813, and was a man of note 
in the village. 

From a child, young Eliphalet had an unusual firm and vigorous con- 
stitution, which made him bold and fearless, and which, through after 
life, qualified him to endure, without injury, the hardships of the 
pioneer. At the age of eighteen, he was enrolled in the militia, and 
served under his father as a non-commissioned oflicer, and was engaged 



462 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

that they had been attacked by an overwhelming force of Michi- 
gan militia, under command of General Brown. They also 
reported that they had been fired upon, and after performing won- 
derful deeds of valor, had been borne down by overwhelming 
numbers and forced to retreat, whilst their less fortunate comrades 
were all either killed or taken prisoners. They formally reported 
these assertions to the Governor, who, in turn, reported them to 
the President. 

The President thereupon sent a copy of the report to Governor 
Mason, and asked for a statement of the fiacts " by the officers 
engaged in the transactions complained of" Accordingly, the 
under-sherifi' was appealed to, who made a very amusing report, 
setting forth the real facts, which showed that it was a civil force 
that made the arrests ; that there was no bloodshed connected 
with the affair; that nine persons in all were arrested on a civil 
warrant, issued by a justice of the peace ; and closing with the 
information that " the commissioners made very good time on foot 
through the Cottonwood swamp, and arrived safe at Perrysburgh 
the next morning, w^ith nothing more serious than the loss of hats, 

in the battle near Plattsburgh, in 1812. In the year following, he was 
married to Miss Eliza M. Havens, who bore liim ten children. 

Mr. Turner, for a number of years, engaged as a partner with his father 
in the manufacture of lumber — afterwards in the iron business, but only 
with partial success. 

In 1832, he came to Michigan, where he resided until his death. After 
remaining in Detroit a few weeks, he removed to Ypsilanti, and there 
resided for more than a year. While at Ypsilanti, he obtained consider- 
able notoriety, in arresting the young Governor Mason, who in his haste 
attempted to disregard the quarantine regulations, established to prevent 
the spread of the cholera in tliat village. In 1833, he came to Grand 
Rapids, tlien just starting into existence, and here he made his home 
until his death, which took place on the 8th of October, 1870. His life, 
for thirty-seven years, has been identifit'd with the history of Grand 
Rapids. He was the builder of the county jail, and, in company with 
James Scribner, his partner, built the Bridge street bridge. Under 
Lucius Lyon, he made the first successful attempt to drill an artesian 
well, in hopes of finding brine sufficiently strong to warrant the manu- 
facture of salt at Grand Rapids. Mr. Turner has been alderman of the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 463 

and their clothing like Governor Marcy's breeches without the 
patch." 

This summary breaking up of the surveying party produced 
the most tremendous excitement throughout Ohio. Governor 
Lucas called an extra session of the Legislature. That body met 
on the 8th of June, and at once proceeded to fulminate an act 
" to prevent the forcible abduction of the citizens of Ohio." The 
wording of the title bears silent testimony to the excitement which 
prevailed in the legislative mind of the State of Ohio, and it 
would seem that they were fearful that the under-sheriff of Lena- 
wee county was liable at any moment to make a wholesale job of 
it, and " abduct the citizens of Ohio " en masse. The act made 
such an offense punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary 
not less than three nor more than seven years. An act was also 
passed to create the new county of Lucas, making Toledo the seat 
of justice, and directing the court to be held on the first Monday 
of the next September, at any convenient house in Toledo. They 
then solemnly passed an act accepting the propositions of the 
President's commissioners. Another act was passed making an 
appropriation of $600,000 to carry these laws into efiect over the 

city, and held other offices of trust. His last public work was the grad- 
ing and graveling of West Bridge street. 

In 1856, he buried his wife, with whom he had lived about forty years. 
His second wife was Mrs. Lydia H. Rosa, who bore him a daughter, and 
who still survives him. 

We close this brief sketch with an extract from the funeral discourse 
of the Rev. H. H. Northrop, pastor of the Presbyterian church, of which 
Mr. Turner was an accepted member: 

" He has lived long among you, and written his own epitaph upon the 
mind of this community. I think I say what you all know to be true, 
when I affirm that he was an honest man. He was not a rich man, in the 
modern acceptation of the term, though he had a competence; he was 
not a learned man, or a great man, or a faultless man, but, may I not say 
it with emphasis, he was a good man. He loved his neighbors; he loved 
the city of Grand Rapids — it was his home, it was his pride; he loved all 
its citizens, and its institutions; he prayed for its welfare and rejoiced in 
its prosperity. He came to this city, when the State was a territory, and 
the untutored Indian still lingered upon much of its soil, and claimed to 
be its owner. A few pioneers, with a keen foresight, had here pitched 



464 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

disputed territory. A resolution was adopted inviting the Presi- 
dent to send a commissioner to go with the Ohio commissioners to 
re-mark the Harris line. 

It was evident that Ohio was aroused. Her State pride had 
been wounded. The idea that the young Territory of Michigan, 
with her stripling Governor, should successfully defy the great 
State of Ohio, with a million of inhabitants, and her aged Gover- 
nor, was one that the authorities could not endure with any degree 
of patience or equanimity. A call was then made to ascertain 
the number of men who were willing to go forth to battle for the 
humiliation of Governor Mason and the protection of the com- 
missioners. Ten thousand men were reported as ready to " do or 
die." 

These proceedings, however, did not have the desired effect on 
the authorities or people of Michigan. On the contrary, it only 
served to rouse them to renewed zeal in the cause, and they hurled 
defiance in the teeth of Governor Lucas, and dared him to enter 
the disputed territory. 

In the meantime, the authorities of Michigan were active in 
sustaining their supremacy on the disputed ground. Prosecutions 

their habitations aad determined that this should be their home. The 
ground upon wliich we tread was not open for settlement. The pioneers 
came, guided by blazed trees, or the north star, from Kalamazoo to these 
falls of the Grand river, through an unbroken wilderness. Mr. Turner 
was a man of very decided character ; he had his own views, upon 
which he formed his own opinions, and, when his mind was once made 
up, nothing but truth and duty could change it. The pliable and time- 
serving might call it stubbornness, and men wont to control others might 
deem him obstinate, but it was the true workings of an earnest mind 
that carried out its own convictions into all the affairs of practical life. 
In early life, Mr. Turner became a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, but, during his later years, he became a member of the Presby- 
terian church, and he gave largely of his means for its support. The 
large and beautiful church edifice where we worship would never have 
been built but for his beneficence. It is his monument. He was also an 
honored and acceptable member of the Masonic fraternity." 

His name is perpetuated in one of the principal streets of the city, 
which is called after him, and in a marble slate in the Presbyterian 
church edifice, of which he was one of the founders. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



465 



for holding office under Ohio were conducted with the greatest 
vigor. For a long time the people of Monroe county were kept 
busy assisting the sheriff in executing his processes, and making 
arrests in Toledo. The partisans of Ohio were continually har- 




HON. N. B. ELDREDGE. 

JS". BuEL Eldredge was born in Aurelius, now Auburn, Cayuga county, 
New York, in 1813. 

He commenced the study of medicine in his native town, and graduated 
in that profession at Fairfield Medical College, New York. 

Mr. Eldredge emigrated to Michigan in 1837, and settled in Commerce, 
Oakland county, where he remained for six years, in the practice of his 
profession. In 1843, he removed to Lapeer county and took up his resi- 
dence in the village of Lapeer. Here he resumed the practice of medi- 
cine and continued it until 1853. 
30 



466 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

assed. Suit after suit was commenced against them, and each 
suit was the breeder of a score of others. The officers of Ohio 
made a feeble attempt to retaliate, but were generally unsuccessful. 
Every inhabitant of the disputed ground was kept busy in watch- 
ing and reporting the movements of either the bailiffs of Wood or 
of Monroe counties. Many of the Ohio partisans were arrested 
and conveyed to the jail of Monroe county. Sometimes these 
arrests were attended with some danger — always with great diffi- 
culty. An instance is related of Major Stickney's arrest, which 
created some amusement at the time. He and his whole family 
fought valiantly, but were at length overcome by numbers. After 
the major was secured, he was requested to mount a horse, but 
flatly refused. He was then put on by force, but he would not 
sit on the horse. Finally, two men were detailed to walk beside 
him and hold his legs, while a third led the horse. In this way 
they succeeded in getting him about half way to Monroe, when 
the men became tired of that means of securing him, and then 
proceeded to tie his legs under the horse. In that manner he was 
at last got to jail. An attempt was made to arrest a son of the 
major called Two Stickney. A severe scuffle ensued, in which the 
officer was stabbed with a knife. The blood flowed pretty freely, 
but the wound did not prove dangerous. It is believed that this 

Two years prior to this time, lie commenced the study of the law, and 
in this year he was elected judge of probate for Lapeer county, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1854. During the residence of Mr. Eldredge in 
Lapeer, he held the office of justice of the peace three terms, and was a 
supervisor four successive years, being chairman of the board each year. 

In 1845, during Governor Barry's administration, he was elected clerk 
of the Michigan State Senate, and was a representative in the State Legis- 
lature of 1848. 

On the breaking out of the late civil war, j\lr. Eldredge was the first 
man to enlist from his county. Immediately following his enlistment, he 
raised and organized Company "A" of the Seventh Michigan Infantry, 
and was commissioned as its captain and ordered to the school of instruc- 
tion at Fort Wayne. In the same year, 1801, the major of his regiment 
was promoted to colonel, and Mr Eldredge was promoted to fill the 
vacant office of major. His command having been transferred to the 
army of the Potomac, he participated in a sharp skirmish at Edward's 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 467 

was the only blood shed during the " war." The officer let go his 
hold, and Stickney fled to Ohio. He was indicted by the grand 
jury of Monroe county, and a requisition was made on the Gover- 
nor of Ohio for his rendition, but the Governor refused to give 
him up. On one occasion an officer attempted to arrest a man in 
the night. The man had but a moment's warning, and sought 
safety by flight. He succeeded in reaching the Maumee river, and 
throwing himself across a saw-log, paddled himself, with his hands 
and feet, safely to a "foreign shore." A very pious man was 
elected justice of the peace, and fled to the woods, where he lived 
many days in an old sugar shanty. It was currently reported, 
and generally believed among the Ohio partisans, that a miracle 
had been wrought in his behalf— that " robin red-breasts " brought 
him his daily food and drink. The belief in this "miracle" 
strengthened the cause of Ohio in many quarters very materially. 
A report of the stabbing of the Monroe county officer by Two 
Stickney was forwarded to the President, together with the state- 
ment that Governor Lucas was protecting him ; and an urgent 
appeal was made for assistance. This made a great impression 
on the mind of the President, and convinced him that something 
should be done to prevent serious trouble from ensuing. 

Governor Lucas soon after sent commissioners to Washington 

Ferry the day following the battle of Ball's Bluff. About this time, Mr. 
Eldredge wrote a letter home, censuring General Stone's manner of 
transporting troops across the Potomac. This letter was published, and 
he was placed under arrest by General Stone, and, after waiting six 
weeks for a trial without obtaining one, he resigned and came home 
This was m the winter of 1862. General Stone was afterwards arrested 
and confined one year, for the same charges made by Colonel Eldredge's 
letter. The legislature of Michigan was in session on his return, and 
Governor Blair immediately requested him to come to Lansing. He did 
so, and was appointed a member of the State Military Board. He served 
in this capacity during that winter and in the following spring was 
appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Eleventh Michigan Infantry. He 
immediately joined his regiment, which was then at Columbia Ten- 
nessee, and served with them until 1863, being in the battle of ' Stone 
River, where he had his horse shot under him. 
Returning home, in 1863, he remained in Lapeer until January, 1864, 



468 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

to confer with the President, and a correspondence was entered 
into between these commissioners and the Secretary of State. 
The Secretary, in reply to an earnest appeal for interference on 
the part of the general government, said that the President would 
immediately cause an earnest recommendation to be made to 
Governor Mason, that no obstruction shall be interposed to the 
re-marking of the " Harris line ; that all prosecutions under the 
Territorial act of February be discontinued ; and no further prose- 
cutions shall be commenced until the next session of Congress. 

This " recommendation," however, had no effect on the action 
of Governor Mason. He was determined to protect his Territory 
and her jurisdiction at all hazards. The " recommendation " of 
the President was made on the third day of July, and the 
deputy sheriff of Monroe was wounded by Two Stickney on the 
fifteenth of that month. Prosecutions went on the same as before. 
When the President became aware of this, he superseded Acting- 
Governor Mason as Secretary of Michigan, and appointed Charles 
Shaler, of Pennsylvania, as his successor. He also advised Gov- 
ernor Lucas to refrain from any act of jurisdiction over the 
disputed territory pending the action of Congress. It now 
became apparent to Governor Lucas that any attempt to take 
forcible possession of the territory would be stopped by the mili- 
tary forces of the United States. This was a matter of great 

when he removed to Adrian, at which place he still resides. Resuming 
the practice of the law, he coutinued it until 1872 as a member of the 
firm of Eldredge & Walker, and enjoyed the largest practice of any 
member of the profession in Lenawee county. He has now retired from 
the practice of law and engaged in farming. 

In 1870, Mr. Eldredge was elected mayor of the city of Adrian by a 
large majority, and served in this capacity for one term. He was nomi- 
nated for Congress, from the first district, in the fall of the same year, by 
the Democratic party, and was only defeated by 901 votes, when the dis- 
trict had previously been strongly Republican, and eleven hundred negro 
votes had just been added. This illustrates his great personal popularity 
and the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. 

Mr. Eldredge is a man of imposing presence, strong determination, 
genial in his intercourse with his fellow man, and popular in all classes 
of society. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



469 



humiliation to the Governor of Ohio. The eyes of the country 
were upon him, and he felt it incumbent upon him to perform 
some act of jurisdiction in order to save himself from the impu- 
tation of having backed down. A happy thought struck him at 




CAPT. J. F. MARSAC. 

Joseph F. Maesac was born in Hamtramck, Wayne county, in the 
year 1792. He was reared in tliat vicinity, spending most of his minor- 
ity there, with the exception of the time he spent in St. Clair county, 
between the years 1807 and 1812. 

His parents were French, and emigrated from France about the time 
of the revolutionary war, and settled in Hamtramck. His father was 
appointed, by General Wayne, captain of the first company of the 
militia that was raised in Wayne county, and served in that capacity. 

While in St. Clair, young Marsac spent so much time with the^Indians 



470 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

an opportune moment. The Legislature of Ohio had organized 
a county, and ordered court to be held at Toledo on the seventh 
of September. To actually hold this court in the face and eyes 
of the military force of Governor Mason, and the " recommenda- 
tion" of the President, would be a grand achievement — an act 
of jurisdiction greater even than re-marking the Harris line. But 
how to do even that was the question. Calling to his assistance 
the Adjutant-General of the State, they devised a plan. The 
result was that the matter was placed in the hands of the Adju- 
tant-General to manage. He ordered out a regiment to act as an 
escort for the judges and to protect them in the performance of 
their duty. The judges met on Sunday afternoon, the sixth of 
September, at Maumee, a few miles from Toledo. They were to 
proceed to Toledo, under the escort that had been provided for 
them, the next morning, and hold court. Some time during the 
evening, a scout, which had been sent out by the colonel of the 
regiment, returned from Toledo and reported that twelve hundred 
men, under command of General Brown, were in Toledo, ready 
to demolish court, soldiers and all, in case of an attempt to open 
court. This report turned out to be false ; but it immediately sub- 
dued all the valor of the judges, as well as that of the regiment 
which was to escort them. But it would not do to back out at this 

that he became familiar with their language. On this account, he was 
engaged to accompany an Indian delegation to Washington, in the year 
1836, while General Jackson was President of the United States. He 
paid his respects to the President and was received very kindly by hhn. 
He assisted in making the treaty of 1886 with the Chippewas. General 
Cass was then Secretary of War. 

Captain Marsac left Hamtramck in the fall of 1838, and removed to 
Lower Saginaw — now Bay City. 

The captain, when removing, took passage with his family upon the 
first steamer that ever came into the Saginaw river, the Governor Marcy. 
To use his language, "she was as slow as a scow." She reached the 
Saginaw river on the 23d of November, 1838, and became fast in the 
forming ice about half a mile from the light house, and had to remain 
there all winter. 

He first rented the house in Portsmouth that had been built by Mr. Rice, 
and subsequenty occupied by Judge Miller. In the spring of 1845, he 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 471 

stage of the proceedings. The honor and dignity of the State of 
Ohio must be maintained. Besides, they would be laughed at if 
they did not hold court. But the judges hesitated at undertak- 
ing so daring an exploit. The colonel of the regiment finally 
came to their assistance. He upbraided the judges for their cow- 
ardice and hesitation, and proposed to take the honor of the State 
into his own keeping. Stepping in front of his soldiers, he called 
for volunteers for a " hazardous undertaking." A few brave men 
answered the call. The trembling judges placed themselves 
under the charge of this forlorn hope ; and, at three o'clock on 
Monday morning, the seventh day of September, A. D. 1835, they 
sneaked into Toledo, hunted up a school-house, held court about 
two minutes, and then ran for dear life back to Maumee. 

Thus did the State of Ohio triumph over her enemies. Thus 
did her patriotic sons sustain her dignity. Thus did her brave 
soldiers throw themselves in the " imminent and deadly breach." 

It is needless to say that Governor Mason and General Brown 
were surprised and chagrined. They had an ample force within 
reach to prevent the holding of a court, as courts are generally 
held. But they were unacquainted with Ohio legal practice, and 
did not look for midnight tribunals, held in dark school-rooms or 
outhouses. 

bouglit land at the upper end of Portsmouth, and has lived there ever 
since. 

In the year 1848, Captain Marsac was appointed, by the Indian Depart- 
ment under President Polk, Indian farmer for the Chippewa Indians of 
the Saginaw valley. His duty, under this appointment, was to teach the 
Indians agriculture and buy implements for them. When General 
Taylor became President, he was removed, and James Fraser was 
appointed in his stead. 

Captain Marsac is still living, with a good degree of health for one of 
his extreme age. His sound constitution, good health, and long life, 
speak well for the good ettects of the climate of central Michigan. 

There is no one in northern Michigan who has a wider circle of per- 
sonal acquaintance among those who have had anything to do with the 
Saginaw valley. In former years, no one came to this region without 
making the acquaintance, if not the friendship, of Captam Marsac. His 
jovial disposition and his genial humor made every one at home in his 
presence. 



'472 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

It appears that Charles Shaler did not accept the appointment 
of Governor of Michigan, as Mr. Mason was still acting Governor 
on the occasion just referred to. John S. Horner, of Virginia, 
was soon after appointed Secretary and Acting Governor ; but did 
not commence the duties of his office till the twenty-first of Sep- 
tember. He was not popular with the people of Michigan, and, 
during his stay in the Territory, appears to have possessed merely 
the shadow of the authority of his office, as will hereafter appear. 
He represented the conservative feeling, in reference to the ques- 
tion at issue, entertained by the "Washington authorities, and as 
such representative did not possess the confidence of the people. 
It is said that, in some instances, he was treated with personal 
discourtesy. His authority was certainly ignored to a very great 
extent ; and in May, 1836, he left the Territory, having received 
the appointment of Secretary of Wisconsin, that portion of Mich- 
igan having then been erected into a separate Territory. During 
his term of office, however, he carried on a lengthy correspond- 
ence with Governor Lucas, of Ohio, which resulted in the discon- 
tinuance of the prosecutions commenced by Michigan, under the 
act of February 12th, 1835. The case of Two Stickney, however, 
was made an exception, and Governor Horner claimed him as a 
fugitive from justice; but, notwithstanding the action of the Presi- 
dent, Governor Lucas refused to give him up. No serious diffi- 
culty appears to have grown out of it. 

But little remains to be said in reference to the " war." The 
question continued for some time to agitate the minds of the 
opposing parties ; and the action of Congress was impatiently 
awaited. A volume might be written, relating the incidents of 
that bloodless struggle, and the story of the privations endured 
by the citizen soldiers — privations which were occasionally relieved, 
however, by a raid on a neighboring hen-coop, melon patch, or 
potato field — the ludicrous incidents, " the hair-breadth 'scapes by 
field and flood," would constitute the most entertaining literature 
imaginable ; but the limits of this volume forbid more than the 
passing glance we have bestowed upon it. 

The election to ratify the Constitution of the State, and to elect 
State officers, had been held on the first Monday in October. The 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



473 



result was the ratification of the Constitution by a large majority, 
and the election of a full set of State officers. Stevens T. Mason 
was elected Governor, Edward Mundy Lieutenant Governor, and 
Isaac E. Crary representative in Congress. The first session of 




HON. GEORGE W. SWIFT. 

George Washington Swift was born in Palmyra, Wayne county, 
New York, May 21, 1817. He is a grandson of General John Swift, a 
soldier of the revolution, and son of Rev. Marcus Swift, who emigrated 
to Michigan in 1825. His maternal grandfather was Weaver Osband, 
also a veteran of the revolution. 

Mr. Swift remained with his father upon the farm, in Nankin, Wayne 
county, where they first settled, until his twentieth year, performing 
labor and enduring hardships and privations, known only to the pioneer, 



474 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the Legislature under the Constitution was commenced at the capi- 
tol, in the city of Detroit, on the first Monday of November, and 
John Norvell and Lucius Lyon were elected United States Sena- 
tors. A regular election was also held under the Territorial laws 
for delegate to Congress, and George W, Jones, of Wisconsin, 
received the necessary certificate of election, although it is said 
that William Woodbridge received the highest number of votes. 
The machinery of the State government was now in full opera- 
tion, with the exception of the judiciary, which was not organized 
until the fourth of July, 1836. The people submitted to, and 
were governed by the State authorities from this time forward, 
although a Territorial Governor was also here in the person of 
John S. Horner. This anomalous state of things continued till 
the organization of Wisconsin as a separate Territory, and the 
appointment of Mr. Horner as its Secretary. It does not appear 
however, that any serious difficulty arose between the two Gov- 
ernors. Meantime, application had been made for admission into 
the Union under the Constitution. But it was not until the fif- 
teenth of June, 1836, that Congress took action on the question. 
It then passed an act accepting the Constitution and State gov- 

struggling with seeming impossibilities in a new country, widely separated 
from civilization by the waters of the lake. From his eighth to his 
fourteenth year, there were no schools in the country, and, until his 
twentieth year, opportunities for education were meagre. At twenty 
years of age, he returned to his native State and enjoyed educational 
advantages until 1841. At this time, he again became a resident of Michi- 
gan, having married Miss Sarah Pudney, of Saratoga county, New York. 
For some years, his principal business was farming, devoting, however, 
some attention to the study of the law. Having never regularly entered 
the practice of law, he was, notwithstanding, much resorted to for legal 
counsel, and, possessing good forensic ability, his services were generally 
sought in matters of public interest. 

He early displayed rare talents for debate, and entered actively into 
public defense of the reforms of the day and soon became a champion 
in the anti-slavery and temperance movements. Many signal victories 
were achieved by his eloquence and polemic power. Many of his efforts 
were pronounced to be of the highest order, and competent judges have 
declared that his addresses to the people in defense of the war to sup- 
press the rebellion of 1861 are among the best put forth at that exciting 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 476 

ernment of Michigan, and providing for her admission into the 
Union as a State, on condition that she, by a convention of 
delegates elected for that purpose, should consent to accept the 
boundary as claimed by Ohio, and receive as compensation for the 
loss of the territory in dispute what is now known as the Upper 
Peninsula. This act could be viewed by the people of Michigan 
in no other than an odious light. The value of the Upper Penin- 
sula was then unappreciated. Copper was known to exist there, 
it is true ; but in what quantities no one could tell. It was 
looked upon as a barren waste, too mountainous for cultivation, 
and of problematical value for any purpose. Besides, the work 
of excision by Congress, it was thought, had proceeded far 
enough. By the act of 1802, Congress had given the eastern 
tract, belonging originally to Michigan, of more than a thousand 
square miles, to Ohio. By the act of 1816, it had given to Indi- 
ana a tract of between eleven and twelve hundred square miles, 
originally belonging to Michigan. And now Congress required 
her to purchase her admission into the Union by agreeing to a still 
further excision of most valuable territory. This was the view 
taken by the people at the time. Governor Mason, nevertheless, 

time. One of the most notable of the many important discussions in 
whicli Mr. Swift has been engaged, was a debate with a distinguished 
New England divine, who lectured for several weeks in his vicinity, to 
the agitation and dismay of orthodox Christians. His challenge to the 
clergy to discuss his doctrine was declined, the most able among them 
declaring that they disbelieved the doctrine but could not cope with its 
defender. 

After much persuasion from the leading members of the churches, Mr. 
Swift consented to meet that gentleman in debate on the following resolu- 
tion, Mr. Swift taking the negative, viz: Resolved, "That man, being 
mortal, dies, and becomes non-existent; but, at a time in the future, he 
will be restored and brought to judgment; the righteous shall receive 
eternal life, and the wicked shall cease to be forever." After an animated 
discussion, which lasted five days, both parties declared the resolution 
lost, and Mr. Swift's friends realized, as never before, his masterly 
power. 

Gratiot, Isabella, Montcalm, and adjoining counties, were settled chiefly 
by means of the graduation act of Congress, which put lands that had 
long been in market at a very low price. As a result, a great number of 



.476 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

issued a call for a special session of the Legislature, to meet in 
Detroit, on the eleventh of July, 1836. On the twentieth, an act 
was approved providing for the election of delegates to a conven- 
tion, to accept or reject the proposition of Congress. It provided 
that fifty delegates should be elected, and that the convention 
should be held at Ann Arbor, on the twenty-sixth of September. 
This convention was composed of a full representation of both 
political parties. It met on the day appointed, and, after being 
in session four days, it decided to reject the proposition of Con- 
gress so far as it related to the boundary question. The vote 
stood twenty-one for acceptance, and twenty-eight for rejection. 
It then appointed three delegates, to repair to Washington at the 
next session of Congress, to cooperate with our representative* in 
securing measures for the promotion of the general interests of the 
State. 

The dissent of the convention was very unsatisfactory to a 
large portion of the people of the State. Two formidable parties 
had grown out of the discussion of the question. Although a 
decided unanimity prevailed with regard to the justness of the 
claim of Michigan to the territory in dispute ; yet, under the cir- 

very poor people settled on them in a short time, and, in consequence, 
years of fearful destitution ensued. For two successive years, they were 
relieved by private contributions, but at the expiration of that time, the 
agents left their field of labor, greatly excited, being charged with having 
shown partiality in the distribution of the relief. A striking incident, 
illustrating Mr. Swift's power of discrimination and executive ability, 
may be mentioned in this connection. In the winter of 1859, the State 
legislature made an appropriation of money, to be expended by the 
Governor in purchasing provisions, to be a loan to these people. The 
Governor called on Mr. Swift and gave the entire distribution into his 
hands. The task was at once entered upon and executed with vigor. 
More than one hundred and twenty tons of provisions were transported by 
teams into the wilderness and distributed among the people, to secure the 
payment of which over two thousand notes were taken. This duty was 
delicate and arduous, requiring the exercise of great wisdom and discre- 
tion. After the supplies were transported into the woods, depositories 
being made many miles apart, notice was given of the time when they 
would be distributed. At each place of sale, Mr. Swift was present, neces- 
sitating many miles of travel, by night, through the dark pine forests, 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 477 

cumstances, the expediency of retaining or relinquishing her right 
had become a matter of serious contention. A year had already 
elapsed since the formation of a State Constitution, and half that 
period had been spent by her delegation to Congress in fruitless 
solicitation for admission. Many began to despond. One party 
seemed to consider the participation in the benefits of the Union 
paramount to all other considerations. This idea had greater 
weight at the time from the fact that a large amount of surplus 
revenue was about to be distributed among the several States. 
This, it was supposed would be lost to the State by a too long 
delay in securing admission. Therefore, there was much to lose 
by delay, and nothing to gain. With the other party these rea- 
sons had little or no weight. Rather than submit to the injustice 
of having so important a portion of her domain wrested from the 
State, they were inclined to submit to the inconveniences which 
might result from delay, till a more favorable action of Congress. 
They placed full reliance in the ultimate action of Congress, and 
hoped that a sense of justice would eventually compel that body 
to admit the State unconditionally. They also argued that the 
State, having a present right to admission, would have an equit- 

almost destitute of roads. He performed this labor in about tliree months, 
rendered liis accounts, delivered the sureties and received his discharge 
with the full approval of the State authorities. Not a voice was lifted 
to condemn any act of his, but universal approval followed him from 
the grateful people, many of whom wept as they gave him a last farewell. 
In the earlier part of Mr. Swift's career, his radical opinions and 
unswerving adherence to his convictions of right, without regard to per- 
sonal consequences, provoked much enmity and opposition, in conse- 
quence of which his friends hesitated somewhat in bringing him before 
the people as a candidate for office. But, after the organization of the 
Republican party, to which he lent an actively helping hand and of which 
he became an able champion, he received the nomination to the State 
legislature, and in the election outstripped every candidate on the ticket. 
Many of his life-long opponents voted for him on the personal ground of 
ability and integrity. He served the State four years, occupying a pro- 
minent position in the House. On his reelection, he led, by many votes 
in his district, the great general who was elected to the presidency. Mr. 
Swift resigned his seat in the legislature in 1869, having accepted the 
office of United States Consul, at Windsor, Canada, which he still holds. 



478 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

able right to her proportion of the surplus revenue, which Congress 
could not refuse to grant whenever she was admitted. 

Thus stood parties when the convention decided to reject the 
proposition of Congress. The dissatisfied party thereupon resolved 
that another convention should be held, without waiting for 
another call by the Legislature. During the autumn, two respect- 
able primary assemblies of that portion of the people assenting 
to the conditions Avere held, one in Wayne county, and the other 
in the county of Washtenaw, two of the most populous counties 
in the State. A second convention of the people was proposed 
for the trial of the question, and the Governor was requested to 
call the same by proclamation. Although the convention was 
approved of; yet, as it was wholly unauthorized by law, the Gov- 
ernor declined to take such a step. A convention, however, had 
been decided upon ; and, on the fourteenth of November, a circu- 
lar from the proper officers of the assenting party was issued, 
which recommended the qualified voters in the several counties to 
meet on the fifth and sixth of December, and elect delegates to 
attend a convention ; that the number of delegates be twice the 
number elected to the popular branch of the Legislature ; and 

Here, as elsewhere in public service, be displays eminent ability and 
integrity. Through unwise measures, an unhappy state of feeling for- 
merly existed between the two countries. In place of mutual respect, 
distrust and suspicion prevailed, and commerce between the two nations 
at that point had fallen to a low ebb, but, under Mr. Swift's supervision, 
order and confidence have been restored, commerce revived, and a happy 
and prosperous state of affairs inaugurated. 

Mr. Swift is yet in the prime of life, actively engaged in the battle 
of reform, and right against wrong His life and labors thus far 
have been devoted largely to benevolent efforts in behalf of the poor, the 
oppressed, the victims of wrong and unholy greed, and in the interests 
of free schools — the diffusion of intelligence, morality and religion. To 
his influence and efforts, while in the legislature, is largely due the law 
establishing free schools — the more am])le endowment of the University, 
and the liberal provision which has been made for the various beneficiary 
institutions, in which our State may indulge a commendable pride. 

Mr. Swift has held many places of trust and honor (in all of which he 
has commanded and received public approval), among which was that of 
State librarian. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 479 

that the election be conducted at the proper places, by the same 
officers, and according to the legal formalities governing other 
elections. Accordingly, the election was held, though generally 
unattended by those who dissented from the proposition of bound- 
ary, or who considered the election void from its illegality. The 
delegates met at Ann Arbor, on the fourteenth day of December. 
As might be expected from a body thus constituted, a decided 
unanimity of sentiment prevailed in regard to the vital question ; 
and, on the fifteenth, it unanimously resolved to accept the condi- 
tion imposed in the proposition of Congress. It protested, how- 
ever, against the constitutional right of Congress to require this 
preliminary assent as a condition of admission into the Union. 

The proceedings of this convention were immediately submitted 
to Congress. As might have been expected, the validity of the 
last convention was seriously called in question. A lengthj"^ and 
spirited debate ensued, in which the whole question was discussed. 
There seemed, however, to be a disposition among all parties to 
admit the State, notwithstanding the irregularity of the conven- 
tion. How much the electoral vote of Ohio had to do with the 
action of Congress in reference to the various matters in dispute, 
is a question not proper for consideration in these pages. 

The final decision was made by an act approved January 26th, 
1837, which, after asserting, by preamble, that the people of the 
State had given their consent to the proposed boundaries, in the 
convention of the fifteenth of December, 1836, declared Michigan 
to be " one of the United States, and admitted into the Union 
on an equal footing with the original States, in all respects what- 
ever." 



CHAPTER XXXII. 



Michigan as a State — Resources and Population — Administration 
OP Governor Mason — Woodbridge — Gordon— Barry — Felch — 
Greenly — Ransom — Barry — McClelland — Bingham — Wisner. 

Michigan was now mistress of her own destinies. The diffi- 
culties which had retarded her progress had been removed. The 
questions which had diverted the minds of her people from the 
labor of developing her resources had been settled. She was on 
an equal footing with the others in the great sisterhood of States, 
and it needed but the proper development of her great natural 
resources to place her in the front rank of greatness and power. 
How well she has succeeded, the following pages will demonstrate. 

The romantic story of the birth, childhood and early youth of 
Michigan is ended. We have seen her as she was before the white 
man had penetrated the solitudes of her giant forests — before 
aught beside the bark canoes of the savage had vexed the waters 
of her lakes and rivers. We have seen her under the blighting 
influence of the feudal institutions of France, whose highest aim 
was to preserve her forests as a shelter for fur-bearing animals. 
We have witnessed the change from French dominion to that 
of Great Britain, whose policy had no higher aims, and was pro- 
ductive of no nobler results than that of France. And, finally, 
we have seen the red cross of England supplanted by the stars 
and stripes of our great Republic, and witnessed the happy results 
of the enactment of just laws and the establishment of free insti- 
tutions. It now becomes our duty to consider her as she is found 
at the present day; to patiently, though briefly, trace her steps 
from youth to maturity, and to exhibit her in the greatness and 
prosperity she has attained through the development of her 
unbounded resources. 

From the nature of things, the following pages must consist 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



481 



of a mere compilation of information from oflBcial documents. 
The history of the State during the period of its peaceful settle- 
ment, and progress in arts and sciences, must necessarily be devoid 
of the attractions which interest many readers ; but, though devoid 




SANFORD HOWARD. 

Sanford Howard, late secretary of the State board of agriculture, was 
born in Easton, Bristol county, Massachusetts, August 7, 1805. lie was 
the sixth descendant from John Howard, who came from England in 
1651, and subsequently settled in West Bridgewater. 
31 



482 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

of tales of bloodshed, hardship and suffering, it is the record of 
the events which have made her great and powerful, and trans- 
formed her solitudes into marts of commerce, cleared away her 
mighty forests, and dotted her landscape with happy homes and 
flourishing cities. 

The first Governor of Michigan under her State organization 
was, as we have already seen, Stevens T. Mason, a native of Vir- 
ginia. He was elected Governor of the prospective State in 1835, 
and held the office till January, 1840. When Michigan was, 
admitted into the Union as a State, her population was about two 
hundred thousand. It possessed an area of about forty thousand 
square miles, which was divided into thirty-six counties. Almost 
the first act that was passed by the State Legislature, after the 
admission into the Union, was one for the organization and sup- 
port of common schools. Congress had already set apart one 
section of laud in each township for this purpose, and the new 
State was not slow to avail itself of the advantages of the dona- 
tion. In March of the same year another act was passed estab- 
lishing the University of Michigan. As a separate chapter will 

Living in a country neigbborliood, liis advantages for education were 
limited to tliree or four montlis in a year at a district scliool, but being of 
a studious tm'u, and quicli to learn, be supplemented bis studies with 
such reading as assisted bim in laying tbe foundation for future useful- 
ness. 

When quite a boy he evinced a decided love for natural history, espe- 
cially that relating to domestic animals. In early life be became 
acquainted with Col. Samuel Jaques and the Flon. John Welles, two of 
the most noted breeders of their times. To this acquaintance, and the 
intimate friendship that followed, the world is indebted in a measure for 
much of the information disseminated tbrougli Mr. Howard's pen during 
the last thirty years of bis life. 

When about seventeen years of age, he was placed in a dry goods and 
grocery store, where he remained about two years, when finding bim dis- 
inclined to any pursuit but farming, his father consented to bis return 
home. From this time be remained with liis father in his favorite occu- 
pation till ISoO, when be married Miss Matilda Williams, and removed to 
Halowell, Maine, where he took charge of tbe celebrated Vaughn farm. 
Here he organized the Kennebec county agricultural society, which was 
the pioneer society of the State. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 483 

be devoted to this institution, we will not stop to consider it here. 
The Legislature also paid particular attention to the mineral 
resources of the State. It appropriated $29,000 for a geological 
survey, and appointed Dr. Douglass Houghton State geologist. 
Internal improvements also received a large share of attention. A 
board of seven commissioners was established, of which the Gover 
nor was made president. This board authorized a number of sur- 
veys for railroads. Three routes were surveyed through the State, 
and eventually became known as the Michigan Central, the 
Michigan Southern, and Detroit and Milwaukee. The latter road, 
however, was originally intended to have Port Huron for its east- 
ern terminus. Acts were at the same time passed incorporating 
the roads between Gibraltar and Clinton, and Detroit and Shia- 
wassee. Thus was the energy and public spirit of the citizens of 
the new State manifested, and thus was the first start made in the 
grand system of railroads which now traverse the State in every 
direction. The next year appropriations were made for the sur- 
vey of the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo and Grand rivers, with the view 
of improving their navigation. In 1839 the^ militia of the State 

In 1837, Mr. Howard removed with his family to Zanesville, Ohio, 
where he became engaged in farming, and also for some years conducted 
an agricultural department in the Zanesville Gazette. Here, too, he was 
chiefly instrumental in establishing the Muskingum county agricultural 
society. 

In 1844, he was offered and accepted a position as associate editor of 
the Albany Cultivator. 

January 4, 1852, Mr. Howard removed to Boston, Massachusetts, to 
take charge of the agricultural department of the Boston Cultivator, which 
position he maintained with benefit to its readers and satisfaction to its 
proprietor during twelve years. 

In 1857, the Massachusetts society for the promotion of agriculture 
decided to make an importation of stock for the improvement of their 
domestic animals, and Mr. Howard was selected for that purpose to visit 
England, Scotland, Ireland and France. He performed his mission in a 
highly satisfactory manner, and made another trip to Europe for a simi- 
lar purpose, and while there received marked attention from many of the 
first people of the countries in which he traveled. Returning, he contin- 
ued to edit the Boston Cultivator until he removed to Michigan. 

In February, 1864, Mr. Howard was elected secretary of the Michigan 



484 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

was organized, and eight divisions, witli two brigades of Uvo regi- 
ments each, were provided for. Another event of this year was 
the completion of the Jackson penitentiary. With this year also 
terminated the administration of Governor Mason, who had been 
twice elected to the chief magistracy of the State. The official 
report in reference to the educational interests of the State shows 
that nearly thirty thousand pupils attended the common schools 
that year, and that the amount of money expended was over 
eighteen thousand dollars. The agricultural statistics published 
in 1838 gives the following figures for that year: Rye, 21,944 
bushels; oats, 1,116,910 ; buckwheat, 6,422 ; flax, 43,826 pounds; 
hemp, 524; neat cattle, 89,610; horses, 14,059; sheep, 22,684; 
swine, 109,096. 

The second Governor of Michigan was William Woodbridge. 
He served in that capacity from January, 1840, to February, 1841, 
when he resigned to accept a seat in the United States Senate. 
J. Wright Gordon was Lieutenant-Governor, and became acting 
Governor upon the resignation of Governor Woodbridge. The 
principal events which occurred during the joint administration 

State board of agriculture, and, in the May following, he removed from 
Boston to Lansing, Michigan, and entered upon the duties of his office. 

His removal from Boston was the occasion of a dinner and presenta- 
tion, at which time he received from the JMassachusetts agricultural club 
a massive silver pitcher. 

Mr. Howard's labors in Michigan were more in the interests of the 
agriculture of the State at large than with the State agricultural college. 
He was, however, a member of the facultj', and took his turn in the 
general lectures delivered before the college, and his addresses were 
always highly welcome by his audience, lie did very much to improve 
the agriculture of the State, and in these labors became widely acquainted 
vi^ith the agriculturists, fruit growers and stock raisers of Michigan. 

In the spring of lb71, Mr. Howard was stricken with partial paralysis, 
affecting his right side. He went from his office, where the fatal disease 
had found him at his work, to his home, where, after an eight days' 
illness, he died on the 9th of March. 

The newspapers througiiout the entire country paid their tribute of 
respect to the memory of the deceased, and resolutions of regret and 
sympathy on his death were passed by both branches of the State legis- 
lature and by the State board of agriculture. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



485 



were as follows : The railroad from Detroit to Ann Arbor, a dis- 
tance of forty miles, was completed ; branclies of the University 
were established at Detroit, Pontiac, Monroe, Niles, Kalamazoo, 
Grand Rapids, Jackson, White Pigeon, and Tecumseh. The 




SVNEST.PHII-A. 



HON. D. HORTON. 

Dexter Horton, a prominent citizen of Fenton, Michigan, was born 
in the town of Grovcland, Oakland county, Michigan, in 1837, on the 
farm where liis fatlier, H. W. Horton, now resides. 

His education was mostly acquired in the school district where he was 
born. At the age of fourteen, he was sent to Albion college, but was so 
given to practical joking that his stay there was of short duration. 
While there he was acknowledged to be a good student, being marked 
perfect in nearly all his studies; was well liked by his teachers and fellow 
students, but was so constantly, into mischief, that they were obliged to 
expel him. When he left college be was president of tjie Eclectic and 



486 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

population of the State exceeded two hundred and twelve thou- 
sand, and the leading cities claimed the following numbers : 
Detroit, nine thousand one hundred ; Ypsilanti, two thousand four 
hundred ; Pontiac, nineteen hundred ; Marshall, seventeen hun- 
dred and sixty-three, and Monroe seventeen hundred and three. 

To denote the growth of the material wealth of the State, we 
present the following statistics, gathered in 1841 : The average 
price of wheat was seventy cents a bushel, and the crop amounted 
to $2,100,000 ; corn was sold for thirty cents, and that crop 
amounted to $810,000 ; oats, twenty cents, and the amount $800,- 
000 ; hay, five dollars per ton, and the amount $750,000 ; pork 
was sold for ten cents per pound, and amounted to $900,000 ; the 
fur trade amounted to $425,000 ; the potato crop to 2,051,000 
bushels ; whisky and wines, $400,000 ; maple sugar, $83,151 ; the 
fish trade, $192,000 ; wool, $70,000 ; dairies, $300,000, and home- 
made goods, $100,000. The exports for that year amounted to 
over four millions of dollars ; and, as the result of the distribution 
act of Congress, the State became possessed of five hundred thou- 
sand acres of public lands, many portions of which were selected 
with great care, and were to become the foundation of an import- 
ant revenue. Associated with the administration of Governor 

Atheniades societies. After his departure from college his time waa 
occupied in teaching school winters, and farming summers, until he 
arrived at his majority, when he took up his residence at Fenton, Genesee 
county, where he now resides. 

At this time, his whole capital consisted of two colts and fifteen bags 
of corn. But being an energetic business man, he soon acquired a com- 
petency, and has ever used his means to increase the prosperity of his 
town. He is an extensive dealer in flour, grain and wool, and, within 
the last three years, has built up one of the largest retail trades, in farm- 
ing implements, that there is in the State. His great energy was shown 
in a large procession of farmers and farming machines which paraded 
the streets of Fenton, on the 14th of June, 1873. This procession was 
very highly spoken of at the time in the local papers, for its numbers, 
beautiful display of all kinds of farming implements, decorated with 
banners, and for the business ingenuity of Mr. Horton in organizing it, 
and surprising the people of Fenton by its unexpected entrance into 
their village. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 487 

Gordon was the reorganization of the Grand Lodge of Free 
Masons, with the constitutional number of lodges. 

Governor Goi'don was succeeded by John S. Barry, who served 
from 1841 to 1845. During the first year of his term, the Uni- 
versity was opened for the reception of students. The Central 
and Southern railroads were now being rapidly constructed, and 
general progress was everywhere in great activity. In 1842, the 
number of pupils reported as attending the common schools was 
nearly fifty-eight thousand. In 1843, a State land office was estab- 
lished at Marshall, which was invested with the charge and dis- 
position of all the lands belonging to the State. In 1844, the 
taxable property of the State was found to be $28,554,282, the tax 
being at the rate of two mills on the dollar. The expenses of the 
State were only seventy thousand dollars, while the income from 
the two railroads was nearly $300,000. The University had 
already become so prosperous that its income was ample to pay 
the interest on the University debt ; and the amount of money 
which the State was able to loan to the several progressing rail- 
roads was one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. Eflbrts were 
made to increase the efficiency of the common schools, with good 

Mr. Horton was from boyhood an active and shrewd worker in politics. 
He first acted with the Whigs, but upon the organization of the Repub- 
lican party, he espoused their cause, and, believing his party right, he 
earnestly worked for its triumph. In 18G1, a struggle occurred for the 
appointment of a postmaster in Fenton. Mr. Horton, although only 
twenty-three years of age, became an applicant for the office, and, not- 
withstanding another person received the recommendation of the repre- 
sentative in congress from that district, Mr. Horton secured the 
appointment. In 1863, when the Fifth Michigan Cavalry was at Brandy 
Station, Virginia, he went to that place for the purpose of enlisting, but 
before domg this, he was informed that he could have an appointment 
from President Lincoln as captain and commissary of subsistence in the 
United States volunteers. Resigning his postmastership, he at once 
accepted of this position, reported to General Thomas for duty, and 
remained with the armies of the Tennessee and Georgia until they were 
disbanded. While in the army, he was promoted to the rank of major, 
by President Lincoln, for eificient and meritorious services. 

At the close of the war, he was reappointed postmaster at Fenton, but 



488 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

results. In 1845, the population of the State was more than three 
hundred thousand. 

Governor Barry was succeeded by Alpheus Felch, who served 
the State in the capacity of Governor from 1845 till 1847. The 
important events under his administration may be summed up as 
follows : The two railroads belonging to the State were sold to 
private corporations — the Central for two millions of dollars, and 
the Southern for five hundred thousand dollars. In 1846, the 
University library was enriched with a choice collection of five 
thousand volumes, purchased in Europe. These books were much 
needed by the University, and added largely to its usefulness. 
The exports of the State for 1846 amounted to $4,647,608 ; the 
aggregate capacity of vessels enrolled in the collection district 
of Detroit was 26,928 tons ; the steam vessels numbering 8,400, 
and the sailing vessels 18,527 — the whole giving employment to 
eighteen thousand seamen. In 1847, the counties in the State 
numbered thirty-nine, and the townships four hundred and thirty- 
five, of which two hundred and seventy were supplied with good 
libraries, containing in the aggregate thirty-seven thousand vol- 
umes. The pupils in the common schools numbered ninety -eight 
thousand, and in the 2,869 districts were employed twelve hun- 
dred male teachers, and nearly two thousand female teachers. 
On the third of March, 1847, Governor Felch resigned his posi- 
tion as Governor to accept a seat in the United States Senate, 
whereupon Lieutenant-Governor W. L. Greenly assumed the 

was removed by President .Johnson, for political reasons. He was a 
delegate to the soldiers' convention, at Chicago, that nominated General 
Grant for the presidency. 

In 1867, Mr. Horton was appointed assistant sergeant-at-arms of the 
State senate, and, in November, 1809, he was elected a representative to 
the State legislature. In 1871, he was nominated, but having voted at 
the former session of that body for the adoption of the fourteenth 
amendment to the United States constitution, and advocating the election 
of a candidate to the United States senate, who was unpopular in his 
district, he was defeated by thirty one votes. 

Mr. Horton is a man of great personal popularity, unswerving honesty, 
fine social qualities and winning manners. He has great business tact 
and energy, and is of inestimable value to his town. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



489 



duties of the executive. During the latter's administration, the 
war with Mexico commenced and terminated ; and, in answer to a 
requisition from the War Department, Michigan furnished one 
regiment of volunteers, commanded by Thomas W. Stockton, and 




HON. GEO. E. HUBBARD. 

George E. Hubbard, son of Mr. Alonzo Hubbard, was born in 1833, 
at Hamilton, in the State of New York. In 1834, the family removed to 
Detroit, Michigan, where they continued five years. In 1838, they 
removed to the Western Reserve, Ohio, and in 1848, to Cleveland, in the 
same State, where he graduated at the high school and subsequently at 
the mercantile college of E. G. Folson. He then learned the tinner's 
trade, serving three years in the shop of Mr. W. L. Marvin. At the ter- 
mination of his apprenticeship he became foreman. 

In 1855, Mr. Hubbard removed to Chicago, where he worked at his 
trade and soon became clerk in the hardware store of Mr. C. Metz. The 



490 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

one independent company, at a cost of about ten thousand five 
hundred dollars. 

Governor Greenly was succeeded by Epaphroditus Ransom, 
who served the State from 1847 till November, 1849. We sum 
up the events and affairs of the State under his administration as 
follows : The Asylum for the Insane was established, as also the 
Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind. Both of these institutes 
were liberally endowed with lands, and each of them placed in 
charge of a board of five trustees. The appropriation in 1869 
for the deaf and dumb and blind amounted to $81,500. On the 
first of March, 1848, the first telegraph line was completed from 
New York to Detroit, and the first dispatch transmitted on that 
day. The following figures show the progress in agriculture: 
The land reported as under cultivation in 1848 was 1,437,460 
acres ; of wheat there were produced 4,739,300 bushels ; other 
grains, 8,197,767 bushels; wool, 1,645,756 pounds ; maple sugar, 
1,774,369 pounds ; horses, 52,305 ; cattle, 210,268 ; swine, 152,541 ; 
sheep, 610,534 ; while the flour mills numbered two hundred and 
twenty-eight, and the lumber mills amounted to seven hundred and 
thirty. In 1847, an act was passed removing the Legislature from 
Detroit to Lansing, and temporary buildings for the use of the 
Legislature were immediately erected, at a cost of $12,450. 

Governor Ransom was succeeded by John S. Barry, who was 
again, and for a third term, elected Governor of the State of 

same year, he was married to Christiana, daughter of Mr. John Landreth, 
of Cleveland. In September, 1856, he removed to Grand Haven, where he 
started a small hardware store, with a stock worth less than one thousand 
dollars. In 1858, Mr. Hubbard purchased the interest in the business 
hitherto held by Mr. C. Metz, the stock then amounting to over five 
thousand dollars. He continued the business until 1866, when Mr. 
George E. Miller joined him in a partnership which continued two years. 
He also formed a partnership with Mr. A. J. Emlaw, who carried on a 
hardware business in Muskegon. At the end of two years, Mr. Emlaw 
was succeeded in the Muskegon business by Mr. John H. Landreth, 
brother of Mrs. George E. Hubbard. He continued it three years. 

At the time Mr. Miller joined the firm, the stock was valued at sixteen 
thousand dollars. Mr. Landreth took an interest in the Grand Haven 
business in 1872, and continued in it one year, since which time the con- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 491 

Michigan. He continued in office till November, 1851. During 
this administration a Normal School was established at Ypsi- 
lanti, which was endowed with lands and placed in charge of a 
board of education, consisting of six persons ; a new Constitution 
for the government of the State was adopted, and the " Great Rail- 
road Conspiracy Case " was tried. This grew out of a series of 
lawless acts which had been committed upon the property of the 
Michigan Central Railroad Company, along the line of their road, 
and, finally, the burning of their depot, at Detroit, in 1850. In 
1851, thirty-seven men were brought to trial, and of them twelve 
were convicted. The conspirators were defended by William H. 
Seward, of New York, and the prosecution was conducted by 
Alex. D. Fraser, of Detroit. Judge Warner Wing presided. 

Robert McClelland followed Barry into the executive chair, 
and served as Governor from 1851 until March, 1853, when he 
resigned to accept a position in the Cabinet of President Pierce, 
as Secretary of the Interior. On his retirement, the Lieutenant 
Governor, Andrew Parsons, became the acting governor, and 
continued in that capacity until November, 1854. 

Kingsley S. Bingham was the next Governor of Michigan. He 
served from November, 1854, to November, 1858. With regard 
to this administration we copy from the " Red Book " as follows : 
The most notable event of Governor Bingham's first term was the 
completion of the ship canal, at the Falls of St. Mary. In 1852, 

cern has been carried on by Mr. Hubbard, the capital invested being 
about thirty thousand dollars. 

In 1870, Mr. Hubbard erected the first brick three-story building in the 
city, and the completion of the building was celebrated in February, 
1871, by the largest party ever gathered together in Grand Haven, con- 
sisting of friends from all parts of Michigan and some from Illinois, 
Ohio and Wisconsin. 

In 1872, Mr. Hubbard was elected mayor, on the Republican ticket, 
when it was conceded there was a Democratic majority of one hundred 
in the city. In the spring of 1873, he was reelected mayor, a position he 
still continues to fill with honor to himself and the general satisfaction 
of his fellow-citizens. 

As a business man, Mr. Hubbard ranks high, and is among the most 
successful. He is persevering, energetic and enterprising. He has 



492 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

August twenty-sixth, an act of Congress was approved, granting 
to the State of Michigan seven hundred and fifty thousand acres 
of land, for the purpose of constructing a ship canal between 
Lakes Huron and Superior. In 1853, the Legislature accepted the 
grant, and provided for the appointment of commissioners to select 
the donated lands, and to arrange for building the canal. A com- 
pany of enterprising men was formed, and a contract was entered 
into, by which it was agreed that the canal should be finished 
in two years ; and the work proceeded. Every article of con- 
sumption, machinery, working implements and materials, timber 
for the gates, stones for the locks, as well as men and supplies, 
had to be transported to the site of the canal from Detroit, 
Cleveland, Chicago, and other lake ports. The rapids which had 
to be surmounted have a fall of seventeen feet, and are about a 
mile long. The length of the canal is less than one mile, its 
width one hundred feet, depth twelve feet, and it has two locks of 
solid masonry. In May, 1855, the work was completed, accepted 
by the commissioners, and formally delivered to the State authori- 
ties. The disbursements on account of constructing the canal 
and selecting the lands amounted to $099,802; while the lands 
which were assigned to the company, and selected through the 
agency at the Sault, as well as certain lands in the upper and 
lower peninsulas, filled to an acre the government grant. The 
openiug of this canal was a most important event in the history 
of the improvements of this State. It was a valuable link in 

acquired a large social, and consequently political influence, mainly by 
his straightforward, honorable dealing and accommodating spirit. He 
Is a valuable citizen, having aided, to the utmost of his ability, both 
IDublic and private enterprises calculated to advance the interests of 
the city. 

As a presiding officer, he has never been equaled in the common coun- 
cil, having a good knowledge of parliamentary practice and a nice sense 
of justice and impartiality. 

As a member of the ancient order of Knight Templars, he enjoys the 
unbounded confidence of the fraternity. 

As a citizen and neighbor, he is known to be a friend, especially to the 
laboring portion of the community, among whom he is exceedingly 
popular, while his standing in commercial circles needs no encomium. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 493 

the chain of lake commerce, and particularly important to the 
interests of the upper pea insula of Michigan. 

Moses Wisner was the next Governor of Michigan. He served 
from 1858 to November, 1860. He was succeeded by Austin 
Blair, whose connection with the State during the progress of the 
civil war, properly brings any notice of his administration within 
the scope of the records of that bloody event. 

Turning from the routine of political and legislative records, we 
will pass on to her struggles and triumphs during the great 
rebellion. 



CHAPTER XXXIIL 



Administration of Governor Blair — The War op the Rebellion 
— Patriotic Action of Michigan — The Troops Sent to the 
Field — The Draft— Governor Crapo's Administration — Close 
OF the^War— The Troops Return Home — Financial Condition 
OF THE State. 

Austin Blair was the thirteenth Governor of Michigan under 
the State organization. The principal events occurring under his 
administration were those connected with the war of the rebellion. 
To give a complete history of the events of that trying period, to 
enumerate the heroic deeds of the brave sons of Michigan, recount 
their struggles and triumphs, and place their record on the pages 
of history as it deserves, would require many volumes. But that 
record would form some of the brightest pages in the annals of 
this nation. 

Michigan soldiers were among the most prompt to offer their 
services when the first gun was fired on Fort Sumter, and were 
among the last to leave the field after the last rebel had laid down 
his arms. They were among those who first crossed the Long 
Bridgeand captured Alexandria. They were under command of 
the gallant and lamented Richardson, who first opened fire at 
Blackburn's Ford, near Bull Run. They were with McClellan, 
in West Virginia, in 1861. In 1862 they were in South Caro- 
lina and Georgia, in the Army of the Potomac, on the Peninsula, 
and in Maryland ; with Banks in the Shenandoah Valley, with 
Burnside in Virginia, with Butler in Louisiana, and with Pope in 
Missouri. lu 1863 they bore a gallant part in the campaign in 
Virginia under Hooker, and Meade, in Pennsylvania. They 
assisted in the defense of Knoxville, under Burnside ; in the cap- 
ture of Vicksburg, by Grant ; and in the raid on Richmond, by 
Kilpatrick. They were with Rosecrans, in his campaign against 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 495 

Chattanooga, and did gallant service, under other generals, in 
Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. In the closing 
years of the war they were with Grant, in his march against 
Kichmond ; with Sherman, in his march to the sea, and with Sher- 
idan, in his campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. They assisted 
in the defense of Nashville, under Thomas ; and were with Wil- 
son and Stoneman, in their raids in Georgia and North Carolina. 
They were at the capture of Mobile ; and, after the surrender of 
Lee, served in Texas and against the Indians in the West. Mich- 
igan soldiers saw the surrender of Lee and of Johnson, and it was 
a Michigan regiment that captured the President of the Southern 
Confederacy. Her heroic dead sleep in every national cemetery, 
and her best blood has been poured out on every battle field. In 
every encounter they were conspicuous for their bravery and devo- 
tion. In every position they were true and faithful. 

It would be a pleasant task to follow the soldiers of Michigan 
through every campaign, and tell the tale of their heroism and 
recount their deeds of valor ; but the limits of this volume forbid, 
and we must rest content with the briefest outline of the part 
which was taken by the State in that memorable contest. Besides, 
the task has already been performed in an able manner by one 
of the soldiers of Michigan. Reference is had to General Rob- 
ertson's History of Michigan during the Rebellion, in Lanman's 
Red Book of Michigan. And we here take occasion to acknowl- 
edge our indebtedness to that volume for many of the facts which 
are here set forth. 

When Governor Blair assumed the gubernatorial chair, in 
January, 1861, the mutterings of the coming storm were already 
heard in the distance. The retiring Governor, the lamented 
Moses Wisner, delivered a stirring and patriotic valedictory mes- 
sage to the Legislature, which served as the key-note to the action 
of the State in the subsequent contest. Govex-nor Blair's inau- 
gural, delivered at the same time, was an equally patriotic message, 
in which he discussed, in a most able and philosophical manner, 
the true nature of our complex system of government, and of the 
real significance of the impending issues, and closed by recom- 
mending that the State proffer her whole military resources to the 



496 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

President to aid in upholding the laws, and maintaining the 
supremacy of the Constitution. The Legislature was prompt in 
its response to this recommendation, and passed a series of resolu- 
tions, declaring the loyalty of the State to the Union and the 
Constitution, and its readiness to aid the government with all its 
material resources and military power. 

Michigan was in reality, at that time, ill prepared for war. 
The long years that had elapsed since there had been any enemies 
to fight had caused her to forget that war was possible. Its 
militia had dwindled to next to nothing. There were only twenty- 
eight companies in the State, with an effective force of a little over 
one thousand men. The population of the State was about 
800,000. The number of able-bodied men, capable of bearing 
arras, was estimated at 110,000. The State debt was $2,228,842, 
besides $100,000 in canal bonds, guaranteed by the State. The 
taxable value of the State was about $275,000,000. The financial 
embarrassments were neither few nor unimportant, and the annual 
tax of $226,250, was considered a grievous burthen upon the peo- 
ple. Notwithstanding these embarrassments, the people were 
willing to sacrifice everything to maintain the integrity of the 
Union, and the utterances of the two Governors, and the resolu- 
tions of the Legislature, struck a responsive chord in every patri- 
otic heart. 

On the 12th day of April, 1861, the telegraph flashed the news 
to Detroit that Fort Sumter had been fired upon — that civil war 
had been inaugurated. This news produced the most intense 
excitement. The first body to move in the matter was the Detroit 
bar. A meeting was held on the IStli, and patriotic resolutions 
passed. On the 15th the news was received that Fort Sumter 
had surrendered. At the same time, the President's call for 
75,000 troops was received. Public meetings were at once held in 
every part of the State, and pledges made to assist the nation in 
this its hour of peril. Volunteering commenced. On the 16th, 
Governor Blair arrived in Detroit, and immediately held a con- 
sultation with the leading citizens. The State had been called 
upon for one regiment, fully armed and equipped. One hundred 
thousand dollars was required for this purpose, and the treasury 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



497 



was empty. To meet this expenditure, the meeting at once 
pledged Detroit to loan the State $50,000. A further sum of 
$25,000 was also pledged by those present, and a committee 
appointed to solicit further subscriptions. The same day the 




REV. MARCUS SWIFT. 

Marcus Swift was born in Palmyra, Wayne county, New York, June 
23, 1793. His father, General John Swift, a prominent citizen of that 
section, secured to liis son as good educational advantages as the country 
afforded in tliat early time, and at the age of eighteen, Mr Swift married 
Miss Anna Osband, and entered on the active pursuits of life. At the 
age of twenty, he became a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and was licensed, soon after, to preach the Gospel. In this field 
he was eminently successful. Philosophical and logical as a thinker, 
32 



498 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Governor issued a proclamation calling for ten companies of 
volunteers. The State promptly responded to this call, tind the 
tenders of troops soon far exceeded the requisition. On the 24th 
the Governor called an extra session of the Legislature to meet 
on the seventh of May. Orders were issued for organizing the 
First Regiment. This was promptly done, and the Coldwater 
Battery was also organized and equipped, with money loaned the 
State by the citizens of Coldwater. The Second Regiment was 
also hurriedly recruited, and went into camp at Detroit. The 
Third and Fourth immediately followed, and were conditionally 
accepted, it being apprehended that they would not be needed. 

On the seventh of May the Legislature met, and legalized what 
had been done, clothed the Governor with ample power for the 
future, and authorized the raising of ten regiments and a war loan 
of $1,000,000. It also passed the "Soldiers' Relief Law," by 
which counties were required to afford certain relief to the families 
of soldiers. 

forcible and fluent as a speaker, simple and easy in address, the young 
licentiate drew around him a circle of friends appreciative of his rapidly 
developing powers and rich in kindness and sympathy. Pecuniary 
embarrassments overtook him in consequence of the sudden death of an 
elder brother by drowning, and caused him to remove with his family to 
the wilds of Michigan in 1825. He purchased land, eighteen miles west 
of Detroit, Wayne county, in the township of Bucklin (afterwards 
divided into the townships of Redford, Dearborn, Livonia and Nankin, 
in the latter of which was his location), and making that a permanent 
home, became identified with the growth and development of that part 
of the State. 

In 1827, he was elected supervisor. Under the territorial regime, this 
oflBce was one of primary importance, involving the entire interests of 
the rapidly developing country. This office he filled for nine successive 
terms, the remote settlers (from necessity) spending two days in going to 
vote, taking their provisions with them and " camping out " in the woods 
during the journey. He was also appointed justice of the peace by Presi- 
dent Jackson, which office he continued to hold until the Territory was 
admitted as a State. 

The last four terms Mr. Swift served as supervisor, he was elected 
without an opposing vote. The public business involved in the division 
of the township, devolved on him and was disposed of with judgment 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 499 

On the thirteenth day of May, the First Regiment, under the 
command of Colonel 0. B. Wilcox, left for the seat of war, fully 
armed and equipped. The Second soon followed, commanded by 
Colonel Israel B. Richardson. Many other companies were organ- 
ized; but, not being able to find places in the regiments in this 
State, sought and found service in other States. The Third and 
Fourth, however, were recruited, under the authority of the Gov- 
ernor; and, while this was in process, a letter was received from 
the Secretary of War, limiting the number of regiments that 
would be accepted from this State to four, and enjoining the Gov- 
ernor from raising any more than that number. 

Governor Blair, however, decided to disregard these instruc- 
tions, and immediately establislied a camp of instruction for the 
officers of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh regiments. Companies 
were soon assigned to these regiments ; and the course of instruc- 
tion proceeded till the first of August, when the camp was broken 
up, and the force sent to various localities to recruit and organize 

and dispatch. His increasing acquaintance, and the duties connected 
with the ministry, which profession he faithfully and laboriously exer- 
cised among the scattered and almost shepherdless flocks of Christ, 
caused his gradual withdrawal from public business, that he might devote 
himself wholly to the chief purpose of his life. 

The Methodist Episcopal church having organized a conference in 
1833, he took charge of Oakland circuit, which embraced within its 
limits 125 miles. This circuit he made once in four weeks, preaching 
thirty-one times each month, and receiving $130 per year for the two 
years he occupied it, in anything but money. The next year he had 
charge of Plymouth circuit, after which he withdrew from conference 
and performed voluntary labor, until the organization of the Wesleyan 
church, preaching every Sabbath and frequently during the week, for 
which he received occasional contributions from the indigent people. 
He always responded with cheerful alacrity to calls for pastoral service, 
and it was no unfrequent occurrence for one of the horses to be taken 
from the plow in the middle of the furrow (for he combined farming 
with his other avocations), in order that its master might repair to some 
distant neighborhood and preach one of the pathetic funeral sermons for 
which he was famous. 

The principal occasion of Mr. Swift's separation from the conference, 
was the complicity of the church with slavery. As early as 1835, he began 



500 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the regiments. This was promptly done, and before the twelfth 
of September, all had left for the field, the President having, iu 
the meantime, called for 500,000 volunteers. The quota of Mich- 
igan under this call was put at 21,337. In addition to this force, 
two companies of sharpshooters were organized and mustered in. 
Also, two companies of cavalry, for a Missouri regiment ; seven 
of infantry for Illinois regiments, and two for New York regi- 
ments. In obedience to this call, recruiting was pushed with the 
utmost rapidity until December, 1861, at which time the State 
had sent the following regiments to the front : 

The First Regiment Infantry, three months, from Detroit, May 
.15th, 780 strong — Colonel 0. B. Wilcox commanding. 

The First Regiment, from Ann Arbor, September 16th, 751 
strong — Colonel John C. Robinson commanding. 

The Second Regiment Infantry, from Detroit, June 5th, 1,020 
strong — Colonel J. B. Richardson commanding. 

to agitate the subject, and made himself heard with telling eflect. Iu the 
conference, he had not a man to hold up his hands as he invited attention 
to an investigation of the sin and its dire efi'ects on the church and nation. 
He insisted that the church ought to take such action as would sliow to 
the world that it regarded God rather than man, and refuse to bind itself 
with the fetters of expediency by tolerating apologists of slavery and 
slave-holding ministers and laymen. He exercised charity towards those 
who honestly entertained the opinion expressed by Bishop Hedding, viz: 
" Slaves could be held in obedience to the golden rule," and was willing 
to believe that what seemed to him a monstrous and unnatural invasion 
of the rights of his sable brethren might assume to some the aspect of 
missionary work. But "his heart burned in him like a tire," and the 
wrongs and sufferings of the slaves stung every fibre of his sympathetic 
nature with pain. His open denunciation of the church polity, regard- 
ing slavery and episcopacy, brought upon him the censure of the official 
boards of the conference, and they, together with the bishop, refused to 
ordain him an elder, notwithstanding he had fulfilled all the disciplinary 
requirements, and passed a complete examination. The condition exacted 
was, that he cease the agitation of the slavery question. For such pledge 
ou his part, ordination was offered him, and the most inviting station in 
the conference tendered. His talent as a preacher made him eminent — 
a pillar of strength to the church as an advocate and defender of its 
doctrines. Learned in the formulas of the churches, familiar with 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 501 

The Third Regiment Infantry, from Grand Rapids, June 13th, 
1,042 strong — Colonel D. McConnell commanding. 

The Fourth Regiment Infantry, from Adrian, June 25th, 1,024 
strong — Colonel D. A. Woodbury commanding. 

The Fifth Regiment Infantry, from Detroit, September 11th, 
900 strong — Colonel H. D. Terry commanding. 

The Sixth Regiment Infantry, from Kalamazoo, August 30th, 
1,020 strong — Colonel F. W. Curtenius commanding. 

The Seventh Regiment Infantry, from Monroe, September 5th, 
1,020 strong — Colonel Ira R. Grosvenor commanding. 

The Eighth Regiment Infantry, from Detroit, September 27th, 
900 strong — Colonel W. M. Fenton commanding. 

The Ninth Regiment Infantry, from Detroit, October 25th, 943 
strong — Colonel W. W. Duffield commanding. 

The Sixteenth Regiment Infantry, from Detroit, September 16th, 
960 strong — Colonel T. B. W. Stockton commanding. 

ecclesiastical history and literature, he presented an impregnable front to 
the assaults of infidelity. The soundness of liis judgment and his 
remarkable familiarity with the Scriptures, caused his counsel and advice 
to be sought and held in high esteem by his ministerial brethren. 
But all these gifts were light as an airy bubble when weighed in the 
balance with his denunciations of the "peculiar institution." The 
unswerving fidelity to moral and religious convictions which character- 
ized him, demanded the renunciation of worldly position and gain, and 
he renounced them. The imposition of priestly hands was "nothing 
worth " if purchased by the stifling of the voice of conscience. All 
the manhood in him rose in rebellion at the infamous bargain, and he 
proclaimed persistently, trumpet-tongued, and in discussions with his 
opponents proved that stains of guilt and crime darkened the slave-hold- 
ing churches. He contended that the complicity and even neutrality of 
the non-slave-holding portion of the church was criminal, a sin against 
God and humanity, in direct violation of the discipline and opposed to 
the spirit and teachings of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. 

The storm of persecution which had been gathering since 1834, fell 
upon him more fiercely with each evidence that he was fearfully in 
earnest in the work of reform. The destruction of his property, mob 
violence, nor threats of malignant enemies could intimidate' him, and to 
cries of "peace," his response was, "first pure, then peaceable." At' 



502 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

The Eleventh Regiment Infantry, from White Pigeon, Decem- 
ber 9Lh, 1,000 strong— Colonel W. J. i\Iay commanding. 

The First Regiment Mechanics and Engineers, from Marshall, 
December 11th, 1,000 strong — Colonel W. P. Innes commanding. 

The First Regiment Cavalry, from Detroit, September 29th, 
1,150 strong — Colonel T. F. Broadhead commanding. 

The Second Regiment Cavalry, from Grand Rapids, November 
14th, 1,170 strong — Lieutenant-Colonel W. C. Davis commanding. 

The Third Regiment Cavalry, from Grand Rapids, November 
28th, 1,180 strong — Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. G. Miuty command- 
ing. 

The First Battery, from Detroit, June 1st, 123 strong — Captain 
C. O. Loomis commanding. 

The Second Battery, from Grand Rapids, December 17th, 110 
strong — Captain W. S. Bliss commanding. 

The Third Battery, from Grand Rapids, December 17th, 80 
strong — Captain A. W. Dees commanding. 

length, hopeless of reform in the church and feeling it no longer con- 
sistent with liis principles to maintain connection Tvith it, in 1841, he 
formally withdrew. 

Politically, he acted in the same decided manner. Always loyal to 
laws he believed to be in accord with the constitution, he never advocated 
more radical political action than that upon which the present Republi- 
can party based its existence. He acted with the American Anti-Slavery 
Society, but was not a Garrisonian abolitionist, believing rather that the 
franchise should be exercised in correcting national evils. 

In 1840, his vote was one of two cast in the township for the "Liberty 
party" candidate for the presidency, James G. Birney. This party 
received his support until merged in the Free Soil party, in 1848, and the 
Republican party in 18oG, and ever after during his life. 

In Michigan, soon after Mr. Swift's secession from the church, a large 
number followed his example, and, in the same year (1841), an organiza- 
tion was effected under the name of the " Wesleyan Methodist Church." 
A book of " doctrines and discipline " was adopted, chiefly compiled by 
his hand. The withdrawals continued to increase in number, and, in 
May, 1843, a large convention of Wesleyan Methodists assembled at Utica, 
New York, to which Mr. Swift was a delegate. Nine States were repre- 
sented, and the " Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America" organized 
with about 170 preachers and 8,000 members. Into this connection was 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 503 

The Fourth Battery, from White Pigeon, December 9th, 126 
strong — Captain A. F. Bidwell commanding. 

The Fifth Battery, from Marshall, December 17th, 76 strong — 
Captain J. H. Dennis commanding. 

Ten of these regiments were clothed and subsisted by the State, 
under the direction of the Quartermaster-General. 

The commencement of the year 1862 found the recruiting 
going on with unabated vigor. Five regiments of infantry and 
three batteries of artillery, in various portions of the State, were 
being rapidly recruited, and they left for the field as follows : 

Thirteenth Inl'antry from Kalamazoo, February 12th, 925 
strong — Colonel M. Shoemaker commanding. 

Twelfth Infantry, from Niles, March 18th, 1,000 strong — Colo- 
nel Francis Quinn commanding. 

Fifteenth Infantry, from Monroe, March 27th, 869 strong — Col- 
onel J. M. Oliver commanding. 

Fourteenth Infantry, from Ypsilanti, April 17th, 925 strong — 
Colonel R. P. Sinclair commanding. 

merged the church organized in Michigan two years before. In the 
itinerancy of tliis churcli and connection, Mr. Swift labored actively, and 
in tlie ministry to the close of his life. He expired, February 19, 1865, 
after a brief illness, at the residence of his son. Dr. J. M. Swift, of 
Northville, lamented by all who knew him. His last words were, " ' Now 
lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine 
eyes have seen thy salvation.' The great principles for which I labored 
and fought amid reverses and persecution are now the ruling sentiments 
of the people. I have lived in a glorious age, and my eyes have seen the 
powers of darkness give way before the coming of the glorious reign of 
liberty and equality." And so he entered into rest. 

The influence of Mr. Swift, in moulding the moral sentiment of the 
community in which he lived, can hardly be over-estimated. His famili- 
arity with all the interests pertaining to a newly settled country, to rural 
life, to the administration of the laws and to the spiritual concerns of his 
fellows, gave him the position of adviser, advocate and judge. His repu- 
tation for candor and probity frequently enabled him to reconcile con- 
flicting interests by mediation, and his voice was ever for peace and 
good fellowship. He was hospitable and charitable, giving vastly more 
for benevolent objects than he ever received for public services, and 
his ear was ever open, and his sympathetic heart quick to respond, to the 



504 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Tenth Infantry, from Flint, April 22(1, 997 strong— Colonel C. 
M. Lum commanding. 

Seventh Battery, from Kalamazoo, February 12th, 145 strong — 
Captain C. H. Lamphere commanding. 

Sixth Battery, from Coldwater, March 3d, 158 strong — Captain 
J. S. Andrews commanding. 

Eighth Battery, from Monroe, March 13th, 156 strong— Cap- 
tain Samuel De Golyer commanding. 

In addition to these there were tliree more companies of sharp- 
shooters raised and sent forward, and one company to serve as a 
guard for three prominent Southern men, who had been arrested 
by Andrew Johnson for treason and imprisoned at Mackinaw. A 
lancer regiment and a battalion of cavalry had also been raised, 
but disbanded by the government. The reports made in July 
gave an additional number of 2,028 recruits to the organizations 
before mentioned, showing a total of 24,281 enrolled since the 
commencement of the war, not including the lancer regiment, the 
cavalry battalion which had not been accepted, or the companies 
enlisted in regiments in other States. Including these, there 

cry of the friendless and oppressed. His vigorous intellect and strong, 
enthusiastic character left its imprint on the civil, political and educa- 
tional polity of his time. As a speaker, he was logical, forcible and 
inspiring. His searching and pathetic appeals to the hearts and con- 
sciences of his hearers were responded to, in multitudes of instances by 
puritied lives, and thousands called him their spiritual father. In his 
latter years, he was universally greeted witli the loving title of "Fallier 
Swift." 

The Wesleyan Methodist church was an organized protest against the 
immorality of slavery, before which other churches trembled, shoi'n of 
power. It put forth in the form of a religious idea, what was soon to 
become a political necessity, and from its despised position among the 
small things of the earth, it sent forth roots into the heart of society, 
which nourished the mighty tree whose branches are now, trul}', "for 
the sheltering of all nations." It drew within its pale such hosts of free, 
aspiring and self-sacri (icing spirits, that its wonderful work was speedily 
accomplished. A generation of men suflBced to do this work, chief 
among whom was Rev. Marcus Swift, who cast into its treasury worldly 
ambition, power and gain, counting all these things but dross for the 
grandeur of the interests it represented. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



505 



would be an aggregate of about 27,000 men. Adding only those 
who went into the regiments of other States would give a grand 
total of 25,734 men who went to the front from Michigan up to 
July 1st, 1862 — over 6,000 more than had been called for. 




DR. G. L. CORNELL. 

George L. Cornell was born at Crown Point, Essex county, New 
York. December 3d, 1829. His parents Avere both natives of this country. 
His fatlier was a physician of considerable eminence and extensive 
practice. 

In 1834, the family removed to Michigan, and settled at Spring Arbor, 
in the county of Jackson. Here he passed through the ordinary course 
taught in a common school, and prepared himself for college. He studied 
medicine under the instruction of his father and Dr. M. Gunn, who 
was at that time surgeon of the University of Michigan, and graduated 



506 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

In the meantime, the Union armies had met with some disas- 
trous reverses in the field, which, for the time being, cast a feeling 
of gloom and despondency over the people of the whole North. 
But Michigan soon rallied from that state of feeling ; and, when 
the President, on the second of July, issued a call for "three hun- 
dred thousand more," she was as prompt as ever in her response. 
The quota for Michigan under that call was 11,686. Six regi- 
ments were immediately ordered — one for each Congressional dis- 
trict. In addition to these, the people of Detroit and Wayne 
county organized one regiment from their own citizens. Other 
regiments followed in rapid succession, and, by the thirteenth of 
December following, fourteen additional regiments were organized 
and sent forward, as follows : 

The Seventeenth Regiment Infantry, from Detroit, August 27th, 
982 strong — Colonel W. H. Withington commanding. 

The Twenty-fourth Regiment Infantry, from Detroit, August 
29th, 1,027 strong — Colonel H. A. Morrow commanding. 

The Twentieth Regiment Infantry, from Jackson, September 
1st, 1,012 strong — Colonel A. W. Williams commanding. 

The Eighteenth Regiment Infantry, from Hillsdale, September 
4th, 1,002 strong — Colonel C. E. Doolittle commanding. 

The Twenty-second Regiment Infantry, from Pontiac, Septem- 
ber 4th, 997 strong — Colonel M. Wisner commanding. 

The Twenty-first Regiment Infantry, from Ionia, September 
12th, 1,007 strong — Colonel A. E. Stevens commanding. 

The Nineteenth Regiment Infantry, from Dowagiac, September 
14th, 995 strong — Colonel H. C. Gilbert commanding. 

from that institution in the class of 1852. The next year after finishing 
his collegiate course, he removed to the city of !St. Clair and entered upon 
the practice of his profession. Since that time, he has devoted himself, 
with rare skill and ability, to the practice; and has won for himself a 
position in the front rank of the profession in Michigan. During the 
administration of James Buchanan, he was appointed collector of cus- 
toms at St. Clair, which office he held until the election of Lincoln, in 
1860. During the war of the rebellion, he went to the front in the 
capacity of surgeon in the army, where his rare skill as a surgeon was 
exercised to the greatest advantage on many a bloody battle-field. After 
the close of the war, he returned to St. Clair and resumed practice. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 507 

The Twenty-third Regiment Infantry, from East Saginaw, Sep- 
tember 18th, 883 strong — Colonel M. W. Chapin commanding. 

The Fourth Regiment Cavalry, from Detroit, September 26th, 
1,223 strong — Colonel R. H. G. Minty commanding. 

The Twenty-fifth Regiment Infantry, from Kalamazoo, Septem- 
ber 29th, 896 strong — Colonel 0. H. Moore commanding. 

The Ninth Battery, from Detroit, December 4th, 168 strong — 
Captain J. J. Daniels commanding. 

The Fifth Regiment Cavalry, from Detroit, December 4th, 1,305 
strong — Colonel J. T. Copeland commanding. 

The Sixth Regiment Cavalry, from Grand Rapids, December 
10th, 1,220 strong — Colonel George Gray commanding. 

The Twenty-sixth Regiment Infantry, from Jackson, December 
13th, 903 strong — Colonel J. S. Farrar commanding. 

In the meantime, an order had been made by the President 
(August 4) for a draft of 300,000 militia, for nine months' service. 
The quota assigned for Michigan was the same as under the call 
of July second, viz: 11,689. In accordance with this demand 
the Governor issued a proclamation, directing a census to be taken 
of the citizens in the State capable of bearing arms. This was 
accordingly done, and the result showed that the number of men 
in the State subject to draft was 91,071. Many diflBculties pre- 
sented themselves in the way of making a draft, and the Presi- 
dent, therefore, left the time for di-afting to the disci'etiou of the 
governors, hoping that each would be able to raise the number 
required by volunteer enlistments. Governor Blair accordingly. 

He has been repeatedly elected mayor of the city of St. Clair, and 
alderman of his ward, and his services are nearly always sought as a 
member of the board of supervisors of the county. Although his politi- 
cal influence is second to none in liis county, he has persistently refused, 
with rare exceptions, to allow his name to be used in connection with 
any office, the performance of the duties of which would call him away 
from his chosen tield of labor — the practice of his profession. He has 
acquired a handsome fortune by his own unaided exertions, and occupies 
a prominent and leading position, not only in his profession, but in social 
and political life. He is remarkable for his benevolence and public 
spirit, and is especially active in the promotion of the educational inter- 
ests of the city and county in which he resides. 



508 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

on the ninth of November, issued a stirring appeal to the citizens 
of Michigan to come forward and save the State from the impend- 
ing draft. Less than four thousand were now needed to fill the 
quota. In the meantime, enlistments had gone forward rapidly. 
The Twenty -seventh Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas 
S. Sprague ; the Seventh Cavalry, under Colonel F. W. Kellogg ; 
the Eighth Cavalry, under Colonel John Stockton ; the Ninth 
Cavalry, under Captain James J. David; the Twenty - eighth 
Infantry, under Colonel Edward Doyle, and another regiment of 
sharpshooters, under Captain C. V. DeLand, had been organized, 
and vigorous efforts were being made to fill up the ranks. 

The aggregate number of troops enlisted and mustered up to 
December 23d, 1862, as reported by the Adjutant-General, was as 
follows : 

" Total, including recruits, sent to the field before July 1st, 1862, 
24,281; 'Lancers' and 'Hughes' Horse Guards,' regularly mus- 
tered into the service, but disbanded without leaving the State, 
987 ; three regiments of cavalry, ten of infantry, and one battery, 
sent since July 1st, 13,739; recruits (including six for nine mouths) 
received from July 1st to December 23d, 2,162 ; estimated strength 
of three regiments of cavalry,' two of infantry, one of sharpshoot- 
ers, and two batteries, organizing in the State, 4,400. Total, 45,- 
569." 

This does not include volunteers from this State Avho had gone 
into the regiments of other States, to a number known to exceed 
1,400, nor those who had enlisted in the regular army — probably 
three or four hundred. 

In January, 1863, the Legislature met and passed an act offer- 
ing $50 bounties for enlistments, and legalized the local bounties 
that had been offered throughout the State. It also appropriated 
$20,000 for the relief of the sick and wounded soldiers in the 
field. This amount was increased, subsequently, by an additional 
$25,000. 

At the commencement of this year, three regiments of cavalry, 
two of infantry, one of sharpshooters, and two batteries, were in 
process of recruitment within the State. During January, the 
" Provost Guard," a company raised by Captain E. D. Robinson, 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



509 



for duty at the Detroit Barracks, was mustered into service ; also, 
Company L, " Merrill Horse," recruited by Almon E. Preston. 
On the twentieth of February, eight completed companies of the 
Seventh Cavalry, under command of Colonel W. D. Mann, were 







COLIN CAMPBELL. 

CoLm Campbell was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in June of the year 
1811. 

At an early age his father died, leaving him the special care of a devoted 
mother, who early taught him the religious principles which are the 
foundation to his present success. 

At the age of fourteen, Mr. Campbell entered into the stationery and 
paper business in his native country. At the age of nineteen, he engaged 
as book-keeper in a bottling or brewing house, and two years afterwards 



510 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ordered to Washington. The remaining battalion was left to 
recruit, and joined the regiment in May following. The Eighth 
Cavalry, 1,117 strong, under Colonel Stockton, left for Kentucky 
on the twelfth of May. The Ninth Cavalry, under Colonel David, 
left on the eighteenth, twentieth, and twenty-fifth of May, leaving 
two incomplete companies to be filled. These joined the regiment 
soon after, increasing the number in this regiment to 1,073. The 
Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Infantry were consolidated as 
the Twenty - seventh Infantry, and left for Cincinnati on the 
twelfth of April, 865 strong, under command of Colonel D. M. 
Fox. The First Regiment of Michigan Sharpshooters, under 
Colonel DeLand, was ordered, on the eighth of July, to Indian- 
apolis. When this regiment was completed, it showed a strength of 
963. The Tenth Battery, 104 strong, under Captain J. C. Shultz, 
left with the Seventh Cavalry. The Eleventh Battery, 108 strong, 
under Captain C. J. Thompson, left with the Ninth Cavalry. The 
Twelfth Battery, under Captain E. G. Hillier, left for Indianapo- 
lis in July. When completed this battery was 219 strong. 

In the meantime a draft was made, in February, in the counties 

he again established liimself in business. This ^as in the outskirts of 
Glasgow, wiiere he conducted a general provision and grocery store for 
a considerable time. 

A few years later, he disposed of his effects in Scotland and sailed for 
the United States, arriving in Detroit in 1842. Here he formed a co-part- 
nership with Messrs. J. H. Thompson and James Jack, two friends who 
had preceded him to this country, and they entered into the dry goods 
business under the firm name of Campbell & Jack. As their business 
increased from time to time the firm was changed, and they removed 
from one store to another until they finally settled in their present build- 
ing on the corner of Woodward avenue and Congress street, under the 
firm name of Colin Campbell & Sons. 

Mr. Campbell has achieved substantial though perhaps not extravagant 
success in mercantile pursuits. His life has not been altogether given up 
to business matters; on the contrary, he has devoted much to the study 
of the Bible, and has made it, to a great extent, the guide of his life. 

Looking beyond the narrow limits of pecuniary gain, he has concerned 
himself with questions of politics and religion, and, although shunning 
public preferment, he has won the highest esteem of the people in his 
adopted State. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 511 

then in arrear for the small deficiency then existing. The number 
drafted was 1,278. Of these, 710 were delivered at Detroit, 545 
of whom were sent to various regiments in the field, the rest being 
discharged for various causes. Of these 430 enlisted for three 
years, only 115 going into the field for nine months. On the 
twenty-third of June the War Department authorized Colonel F. 
W. Kellogg to raise two additional regiments of cavalry and two 
more batteries of artillery. These were to be completed within 
forty days. It was found impossible to do this in so short a time ; 
but the recruiting commenced at once with the utmost vigor, and, 
on the first of December, the Tenth Cavalry, under Colonel Thad- 
deus Foote, left for Kentucky, 912 strong, and was followed, on 
the seventeenth, by the Eleventh Cavalry, under command of 
Colonel S. B. Brown, 921 strong. The two batteries were left in 
camp, in the process of organization. In July Colonel Henry Barns 
commenced the arduous task of raising a colored regiment. The 
organization was completed in February following, and mustered 
into the service, 895 strong. It was afterwards designated as the 
One Hundred and Second United States colored troops. 

In March of this year Congress passed an act " for enrolling 
and calling out the national forces." The execution of this act was 
under the exclusive control of the Federal authorities, and it pro- 
vided elaborate details for attaining the object in view. The 
national force was declared to consist, with certain specified excep- 
tions, of " all able-bodied male citizens of the United States, and 
persons of foreign birth who shall have declared on oath their 
intention to become citizens under and in pursuance of the laws 
thereof, between the ages of twenty and forty-five years ;" and 
this force was divided into two classes, the first to comprise " all 
persons subject to do military duty between the ages of twenty and 
thirty-five years, and all unmarried persons subject to do military 
duty above the age of thirty-five and under the age of forty-five,' 
the second to comprise " all other persons subject to do military 
duty ;" and it was provided that the latter class " shall not, in any 
district, be called into the service of the United States until 
those of the first class shall have been called." Each Congres- 
sional district was formed into an enrollment district, a provost 



512 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

marshal and board of earollment provided for each, and these 
districts were again divided into sub-districts, consisting of Avards 
and townships. 

Lieutenant-Colonel B. H. Hill was appointed Acting Assistant 
Provost Marshal General of the State. Provost ruarshals were 
appointed for each Congressional district, and through these agen- 
cies the enrollment was completed during the summer. The total 
numbers enrolled were: of the first class, 80,038 ; second class, 
40,226. On the completion of the enrollment in the several States 
a draft was ordered of one-fifth of the first class, subject to adjust- 
ments of the surplus or deficiency existing in the accounts of each 
State under previous calls. 

On the twenty -seventh of October a draft began in all the dis- 
tricts except the First, which was delayed till the fifth of Novem- 
ber. The number drafted was 6,383. Of these, 261 were delivered 
at the general rendezvous ; 643 furnished substitutes (43 of whom 
deserted) ; 1,626 paid each $300 commutation money ; 2,130 were 
exempted ; and 1,069 failed to report. The total amount paid as 
commutation money was $487,800. 

In October, the governiueut offered recruiting agents S15 for 
each recruit furnished, and increased the bounties to $302 for 
those enlisting for the first time, and $402 for veterans reenlistiug. 
Liberal local bounties were offered in most of the counties. 

On the seventeenth of October the President issued a call for 
300,000 more men, and ordered a draft to commence the fifth of 
January ensuing, to fill any deficiency then existing. The quota 
for ^Michigan under this call was 11,298. The Governor immedi- 
ately issued a stirring proclamation, calling upon the people to 
" fill up the ranks once more," and promising that " the next blast 
of the bugle for an advance will sound the knell of revolution and 
herald in the return of peace." The appeal was responded to by 
the people with the same cordiality that had characterized their 
action on every previous call. The returns and muster rolls 
showed that, down to December 31st, 1863, an aggregate of 53,749 
men had been mustered into the service of the United States 
since the commencement of the war, not including the troops dis- 
banded. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



513 



The important event which occurred in the early part of 1864 
was the return of the " veterans," who had reenlisted, and were 
home on furlough and reorganizing. Five thousand five hundred 
and forty-five of these reentered the service, entitling the following 




HON. WM. A. BURT. 

William Austin Burt, who was very prominently identified with the 
early days of the State, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, June 13, 
1792. At this place, Alvin Burt and Miss Wealthy Austin, parents of 
William Austin Burt, were born. They resided there until 1798, when 
they removed with their son William, then six years of age, to Mont- 
gomery county, New York. At that time, there were no schools, and 
young Burt, whose eager thirst for knowledge had begun to develop at 
that early age, encountered many difficulties in acquiring an education. 
Fortunately for him, a gentleman resided in the neighborhood who had 
33 



514 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

organizations to which they belonged to the title of " veteran : " 
First, Second and Third Cavalry ; Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, 
Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, 
Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Infantry ; the Sixth Heavy Artillery, 
and Batteries B, C, and E, First Light Artillery, and 148 of the 
Engineers and Mechanics. On the first of February a draft was 
ordered by the President for 500,000 men, to serve for three years, 
or during the war. This order was interpreted to mean an exten- 
sion of the then pending call for 300,000, and was so acted upon. 
On the fourteenth of March the President made an additional 
order for 200,000 men, giving till the fifteenth of April for enlist- 
ments before the draft should take place. An act was also passed 
by Congress abolishing the commutation system. The distinction 
of classes had already been abolished. On the eighteenth of July 
the President issued a proclamation calling for 500,000 men, and 
directing that volunteers be accepted for one, two, or three years, 
as they might elect ; and that on the fifth of September, a draft 
should be made for any deficiency that might be found to exist. 
Upon the reception of this call. Governor Blair issued a stirring 
proclamation, calling upon the people for prompt efibrts to meet 

been a teacher in the old country, and who took an interest in his studies 
and gave him every assistance and encouragement. Here he began the 
study of surveying and national astronomy, and at the age of fourteen, 
he had mastered these difficult studies. His parents were poor and could 
give him but little aid, and after the toil of the day was ended, the young 
man pursued his studies by the light of a pine knot, the luxury of a 
" tallow dip" being at that time not easily obtained. Thus employed, 
the time went by until he was seventeen years of age, when the family 
emigrated to Erie county. New York, the then "far west," and began 
the slow and tedious labor of making for themselves a home in the 
wilderness. 

At the age of twenty-one, he married Phoebe Cole, a daughter of John 
Cole, Esq., a prominent citizen of that country. This occurred in 1813, 
and the United States being engaged in a war with Great Britain, young 
Burt joined the American forces, and after participating in an unsuccess- 
ful attack on Fort Burlington, Canada, the order was given for the 
soldiers to save themselves as best they could. Burt and a companion 
secured a canoe, made their way to Buffalo, and finally reached their 
home. The following year Burt enlisted in the service for another term 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 515 

the demand of the President. The quota assigned to the State 
was 18,282, of which a little over 12,000 remained to be recruited 
at the time of issuing the proclamation. The Adjutant-General 
at once issued orders authorizing the organization of six regi- 
ments, one in each Congressional district. Accordingly, on the 
twenty-sixth of July, Colonel J. W. Hall was authorized to reor- 
ganize the old Fourth Infantry, whose term of service had expired. 
On the twenty-ninth of the same month, Colonel M. B. Hough- 
ton was authorized to reorganize the Third Infantry, whose term 
had also expired. On the same day, Hon. J. F. Driggs was 
appointed to take charge of the organization of a new regiment, 
to be called the Thirty-first Infantry. On the ninth of August, 
Hon. S. S. Lacey was authorized to organize the Twenty-ninth 
Infantry. On the fifteenth of the same month, Hon. W. B. Wil- 
liams was intrusted Avith the organization of the Twenty-eighth 
Infantry. On the twenty-fourth of August, Major John Atkin- 
son, of the Twenty-second Infantry, was authorized to raise and 
organize the Thirtieth Infantry. 

Recruiting now proceeded with renewed vigor ; but the quota 
was so great that it was impossible to fill it before the impend- 

of sixty days, and served at BuflFalo in the capacity of fife major. At 
the close of the war, he engaged in mercantile pursuits, was elected 
magistrate for his district, and did occasional jobs of surveying for his 
neighbors. 

Mr. Burt's mercantile career was not, strictly speaking, a success. This 
failure in business, no doubt, induced him to make a journey to the far 
west, which he did in the autumn of 1817. 

His journal of this expedition is very interesting, and we regret that 
our limited space prevents us from giving it to our readers. He left the 
outlet of Chautauqua Lake, on the 13th of August, 1817, and after reach- 
ing the Alleghany he passed down that river to the Ohio, and down the 
Ohio to the Falls at Jeflfersonville. From here, he went overland to Vin- 
cennes and further on to St. Louis, where he arrived on the 19th of 
September. Returning, lie left the latter place on the 25th of the same 
month, and after passing through Vincennes and Fort Harrison, he 
reached Detroit on the 28th of October, remained until the 30th, when he 
took passage on the schooner Washington, for Buffalo, which place he 
reached on the 5th of November. 

Early in the spring of 1822, he came to Michigan in hopes of getting 



516 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ing draft took place. On the tenth of June a draft was made, 
but even that did not fill the quota, and another draft was ordered 
to take place in subdistricts ; and again, on the twentieth of 
September, still another. The result of these efforts during the 
first ten months of 1864 was as follows : Volunteers, 20,041 ; 
drafted men, 1,956 ; veterans reenlisted, 5,545 ; enlisted in the 
navy, 430 ; total credits in numbers, 27,972. Of these, 356 paid 
commutation money previous to the act abolishing commutation, 
deducting which would leave the total number of men actually 
raised during ten months, 27,616. The total credit to the State 
up to this time from the beginning of the war was 83,347. 

On the third of September, authority was given to Colonel W. 
L. Stoughton to reorganize the Eleventh Infantry. In November 
a regiment was raised for the defense of the eastern border of 
Michigan. The term of enlistment was tAvelve months. This regi- 
ment was called the Thirtieth Infantry, and was commanded by 
Colonel G. S. Wormer. 

It was now hoped that no more calls would be made ; but, on 
the nineteenth of December, the President issued a call for " three 
hundred thousand more," to supply a deficiency in the call of July 

employment in the public land surveys, or in lieu thereof, to engage in 
mill building. After his arrival, he worked for a while at his trade, and 
built a saw mill at Auburn, Oakland county. Then, taking an Indian 
trail to the Indian trading post at Flint, Mr. Burt went in search of the 
government land surveyor, Mr. Fletcher, who was in that vicinity, sub- 
dividing the towns into sections Returning from thence, he made a 
selection of government land in the present township of Washington, 
Macomb county, upon which he moved his family in the season of 1824. 
From this date until 1833, he was mainly occupied in mill building and 
in local surveying. He was elected a member of the territorial council 
in 1826, and served in 1826-27. He was elected county surveyor of 
Macomb county in 1831, and served three years. In the meantime he 
had been appointed district surveyor by Governor George B. Porter in 
1832. At this time he was appointed postmaster at Mt. Vernon, an office 
which he held for twenty-four years. April 23, 1833, he was appointed 
an associate judge for the Macomb circuit. In the autumn of 1833, he 
received his appointment as United States deputy surveyor from the sur- 
veyor general's office at Cincinnati, for the district northwest of the Ohio, 



518 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

eighteenth, and designated the fifteenth of February as the day 
for another draft, in case the quota should not be full. Accord- 
ingly, the enrollment was at once corrected, and the quotas 
assigned to each subdistrict. This done, it was found that in the 
State there were on the enrollment 77,999 men subject to draft. 
The quota for the State under the call was 10,010. 

But the end was now approaching. The close of the year found 
Sherman in possession of Savannah, Thomas triumphant in Ten- 
nessee, and Grant in the trenches before Petersburgh. Michigan 
had nobly done her duty, under the statesmanlike guidance of her 
" Great War Governor " — a title nobly earned by Austin Blair 
during the four eventful years of his administration. His term 
of office was now drawing to a close. On the fifth of January, 
1865, the Legislature met, and Governor Blair prepared to vacate 
the chair he had filled with such distinguished ability. Nobly 
had he performed his duty to the State, the government, and to 
the soldiers of Michigan. The soldiers in the field he never suf- 
fered himself to forget, and on retiring from office, his last official 
utterances were addressed to them and in their behalf The fol- 
lowing beautiful tribute paid to them in his valedictory message 

and immediately left for the field, his district of survey Ijaug northward 
of Fort Gratiot, on tlie borders of Lake Huron. 

During all these years of unsuccessful endeavor to obtain employment 
in the public land surveys, his inventive genius had not been idle; and 
soon after his removal to Michigan he had constructed a simple but prac- 
tical printing apparatus, whereby business men could conduct their cor- 
respondence by printed letter. The invention, however, failed to come 
into general use, and for want of adequate means to make the enterprise 
a success, the project was abandoned. 

As early as 1833, he had conceived the idea and discovered the prin- 
ciples that resulted in the invention of the solar compass — that crowning 
achievement of his life. He began soon after the construction of a 
model, which he exhibited in 1835 to a committee of the Franklin Insti- 
tute of Philadelphia, of which scientific body he was a member. The 
institute unanimously awarded him a Scott's legacy medal. This result 
was highly gratifying and gaTe him much encouragement, emanating 
as it did from the first scientific body in the land. In the meantime he 
was engaged in the public land surveys in Iowa and west of the Missis- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 519 

on that occasion is not only characteristic of the man who uttered 
it, but finds a response in the heart of every patriot : 

" Gentlemen— Again, and for the last time, I commend the 
Michigan troops to your continued care and support. They have 
never failed in their duty to the country or to the State. Upon 
every great battle-field of the war their shouts have been heard 
and their sturdy blows have been delivered for the Union and 
victory. Their hard-earned fame is the treasure of every house- 
hold in the State, and the red blood of their veins has been 
poured out in large measure to redeem the rebellious South from 
its great sin and curse. At this hour they stand under the flag 
of their country, far away from home, in every quarter where the 
enemy is to be met — along the banks of the father of waters, in 
the great city at its mouths, on the Arkansas, in the captured forts 
of the Gulf, by the waters of the Cumberland, the Tennessee, and 
of the Savannah, in the chief city of the Empire State of the 
South, among the conquering columns in the Valley of the Shen- 
andoah, and in the trenches under the-eye of the Lieutenant- 
General in the great leaguer of Petersburg and Richmond. Alas, 
that they are also perishing of cold and hunger, and disease, in 

sippi, also in Wisconsin, making the subdivisions near where the city of 
Milwaukee now stands. This was in the winter of 1834-35. In 1838, he 
was elected one of the commissioners of public improvements for the 
State of Michigan, which had but recently been admitted into the Union. 
Michigan was then entering upon a career of vast internal improvements 
by way of canals and railways, and the people of the State may feel well 
assured that through the sound sense and practical knowledge of William 
A. Burt, some millions of dollars were saved to the taxpayers of the 
State. 

. Mr. Burt had not, in the meantime, suffered his inventive genius to 
remain idle. His solar compass had occupied largely his thoughts, and 
many alterations and improvements had been made as practical use 
seemed to suggest. On the 14th of December, 1840, he exhibited to the 
Franklin Institute, a perfect solar compass, for which he received, by 
order of the committee through William Hamilton Actuary, the highest 
commendation and a most gratifying and able support on the value of 
his invention. 

From 1840 to 1847, he was mostly occupied in the public land surveys 
of northern Michigan, near Chocolate River, Lake Superior, but he pub- 



520 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the filthy rebel prisons and pestilential camps of the South. In 
every situation their bravery has won the approval of their com- 
manders, and their heroic endurance of hardships has added 
lustre to their name. It is my sole regret at quitting office that I 
part with them. My earnest efforts for their good shall follow 
them while I live, and now from this place I bid them hail, and 
farewell !" 

The Legislature responded by passing resolutions highly com- 
plimentary to Governor Blair, and tendering the grateful thanks 
of the people of Michigan for the able and satisfactory manner 
in which he had conducted the affairs of the State during the 
four years of his administration. 

On the retirement of Governor Blair, Henry H. Crapo was 
inaugurated Governor of Michigan. He was a man possessing 
sterling qualities of mind and heart, great executive ability, scru- 
pulous honesty of purpose, and strong and inherent patriotism. 
He came to the executive chair at a time when all these qualities 
were required, in an eminent degree, in the chief magistrate of 
the State. The nation was engaged in the last desperate struggle 
with the great rebellion. The resources of the whole people were 

lished a small manual for the adjustment and use of the solar compass, 
which was of very great benefit to those using the instrument. 

In that year, he was associated with the lamented Dr Douglass Hough- 
ton, in the prosecution of the linear and geological surveys. In the 
autumn of 1845, on the IStli of October, Dr. Houghton lost his life by 
the upsetting of a boat during a storm on Lake Superior. Owing to his 
death, Judge Burt had the geological reports to make out, which he did 
with marked ability and entire satisfaction to the department. The 
labor of those years was enormous. Great numbers of specimens were 
collected and properly labeled. The immense body of iron ore south of 
Teal Lake was discovered by him on September 19, 1844; and during that 
season and the year 1846, more than twenty beds of iron ore were dis- 
covered by him and reported to the world, thus giving some idea of the 
vast hidden wealth of northern Michigan. No other living man had 
done so much or placed his information in such tangible shape for the 
general good, and public attention was at once turned in that direction. 

In the summer of 1851, Mr. Burt A-isited Europe, for the purpose of 
exhibiting his instrument at the world's fair, in London. He took the 
occasion while there to visit the eminent geologist, Hugh Miller, at Edin- 



522 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

being taxed to the utmost to meet the demands of the hour. The 
bone and sinew of the State, the flower of its population, were in 
the trenches before Petersburg, with Thomas in his struggle in the 
Southwest, with Sherman on his grand "march to the sea," or sleep- 
ing beneath the bloody sod of a thousand battle-fields, or languish- 
ing in the dark, dismal, and pestilential prisons of the Southern 
Confederacy. Thousands of widows and orphans were at home, 
demanding the care which a grateful people could not withhold. 
The sick and wounded soldiers were in every hospital, the heroic 
dead in every cemetery. The treasury, State and national, was 
being rapidly depleted. Every city, village, ward, and township 
had taxed itself to the utmost to meet the demands of patriotism. 
The war was not yet ended, and the nation demanded of Michigan 
ten thousand more of her sons. Truly it required a strong heart 
and a steady hand to enable the new executive to meet the 
demands of the hour, and preserve to the State the brilliant and 
unsullied record she had made during the administration of her 
great War Governor. How well Governor Crapo performed the 
task, every citizen of Michigan can testify. 

Happily, however, but little of the war record of Michigan 

burg, Scotland, whose writings had given him so much pleasure and 
profit. He also visited Paris, and returning to London, he received a 
prize medal from the jurors on astronomical instruments, and the fol- 
lowing certificate from Prince Albert. 

"I hereby certify that her majesty's commissioners, upon the award of 
the jurors, have presented a prize medal to Wm. A. Burt, for a Solar 
Compass and surveying instrument shown the exhibition. 

ALBERT, 

President of the Royal Commission. 
Hyde Park, London, October 15, 1S51." 

Returning home in the fall of 1852, he was elected a member of the 
legislature, and among the duties discharged by him was that of chairman 
of the committee on St. Mary's Falls ship canal, of the session of 1852-3. 
To him, it is confidently believed, may be attributed the success of favor- 
able legislation and for the speedy construction of that work, so impor- 
tant to the State and country. 

During the summer of 1855, Mr. Burt compiled a manual, which he 
published, and which he entitled "A Key to the Solar Compass and Sur- 
veyor's Companion." 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 523 

remains to be told. The beginning of the year 1865, as has been 
seen, found the State with a draft impending for more than ten 
thousand men. On the first of January the Eleventh Regiment 
of Infantry was being recruited. The organization of the Thirti- 
eth, designed for duty on the Detroit and St. Clair rivers, was 
completed on the ninth, and at once assigned to duty. On the 
fourth of March four companies of the Eleventh left for Nash- 
ville, and on the eighteenth, the remaining six companies followed, 
under command of Colonel P. H. Keegan. The whole force con- 
sisted of 898 officers and men. On the fourth of February the 
Legislature offered $150, State bounty, and authorized townships 
to pay $100. These bounties continued to be paid until the four- 
teenth of April, when recruiting ceased within the State. 

The war had now drawn to a close. On the ninth of April 
General Lee surrendered his army to General Grant. The surren- 
der of Johnston to Sherman soon followed. 

Previous to this, and subsequent to November 1st, 1864, there 
had been raised in the State 9,382 recruits. Of these, 7,547 vol- 
untarily enlisted in the army, 53 in the navy, and 1,782 were 
drafted. The Adjutant-General's report shows that the total 

In 1856, he obtained letters patent in tlie United States, England, 
France and Belgium, for the Equatorial Sextant. This instrument had 
cost him more brain labor than the solar compass, and is of ingenious 
construction and of much promise to the navy and mercantile marine, 
its powers being ascertained by Lieutenant Maury, as follows: 

"The Equatorial Sextant being manipulated properly, it will show 
without computation, but by a simple reading off, the latitude, hour, 
angle, and azimuth, and this at any time of day, thus giving the position 
of a ship at sea at once, with the use of a chronometer." 

Unfortunately for the interest of commerce and the commercial world, 
the inventor was not permitted to perfect the instrument. He died of 
heart disease, August 18, 1858, at his home in Detroit. Surrounded by 
his family, he passed peaceably away, and was buried at the family 
grounds at Mt. Vernon, near his first home in Michigan. 

Mr. Burt was a Chi'istian man, and led a Christian life. The religion 
he professed he practiced. There was nothing spasmodic about it. It 
was of practical moment to him and influenced his life all through. He 
was one of the early founders of the Baptist church at Mt. Vernon, and 
always a liberal contributor to its various objects, and throughout life a 



524 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

number of men furnished by Michigan, from the beginning of the 
war to its close, was ninety thousand seven huudred and forty- 
seven. The sum paid into the Treasury of the United States by 
drafted citizens of Michigan as commutation money was five hun- 
dred and ninety-four thousand six hundred dollars. 

The task of the soldiers of Michigan was now ended. How 
nobly they had performed their duty, every one knows; and the 
pages of history will tell the story of their patriotism and heroic 
deeds to thousands of generations yet unborn. 

On the fourth day of June, 1865, the Twentieth Regiment 
returned home. Others followed in succession, but it was not till 
the tenth of June, 18G6, that the last regiment arrived in the 
State. The Third and Fourth Infantry were the last to 4eave the 
field. 

On the fourteenth of June, 1865, Governor Crapo issued a pro- 
clamation of thanks to the Michigan troops. After speaking of 
the untold toils and hardships they had endured, of their bravery 
and patriotism, their honorable scars, and their heroic dead, he 
closed as follows : 

" In the name of the people of Michigan, I thank you for the 

consistent member. His life was one of constant activity. He possessed 
a strong, compact frame, capable of enduring great fatigue, which many 
times was put to the utmost test in his great labors in the wilderness. His 
perceptions were quick and elastic, and his judgment was seldom if ever 
at fault. Without the education of the schools, he possessed that practi- 
cal education which was the result of a lifetime of earnest thought and 
labor, and he was recognized among scholars as a teacher in all that per- 
tained to science. It was only by labor — persistent and determined labor 
— that he had accomplished so much. Working his way up by toil and 
through privation, striving for a livelihood by day and laboring in the 
interests of science by night, he has given to the world a valuable inven- 
tion, and to himself an immortal name. A pioneer in the State of Mich- 
igan, he had lived to see it one of the first in the nation, a result to which 
he had largely contributed, and the people of the Peninsular State will 
ever have a warm place in their hearts for the memory of William A. 
Burt. 

Mr. Burt had five sons, viz: John, Alvin, Austin, Wells and William, 
all but one of whom (Alvin) are now living, and were for many years 
his associates in the surveys of the public lands. 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 



525 



honor you have done us by your valor, your soldierly bearing, 
your invincible courage everywhere displayed, whether upon the 
field of battle, in the perilous assault, or in the deadly breach ; 
for your patience under the fatigues and privations and sufferings 




HORACE R. GARDNER. 

Horace R. Gardner was born at Auburn, New York, March 25, 1827. 
Ten years later he removed from Onondaga county, with his father, John 
G. Gardner, to Hillsdale county, jMichigan, and was engaged with him in 
the manufacture of lumber and flour, and in farming, until the j^ear 1857, 
when he became interested in the Jonesville Woolen Mills. In 1859, he 
became associated with Ransom Gardner, under the firm name of H. R. 
Gardner & Co., and greatly increased the capacity of the factory, soon 
making it one of the most extensive of its kind in the West. The 
factory was destroyed by fire on the 3d of January, 1866, but was rebuilt 
and greatly enlarged the same year, and manufacturing resumed within 
nine months after the fire. 



526 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

incident to war, and for your discipline and ready obedience to 
the orders of your superiors. We are proud in believing that 
when the history of this rebellion shall have been written, where 
all have done well, none will stand higher on the roll of fanae than 
the officers and soldiers sent to the field from the loyal and patri- 
otic State of Michigan." 

The total number of troops furnished by Michigan, as we have 
before seen, was 90,747. Of these, 67,468 were natives of the 
United States ; of British America, inclusive of Canada, 8,886 ; 
of Europe, 14,393. In regard to color, they were divided as fol- 
lows : White, 88,941 ; colored, 1,661 ; Indians, 145. When it is 
remembered that the total population in the State, in 1864, was 
but 805,379, Michigan may well be proud of her war record. 

The number of enlisted men who died in action or of wounds 
was 3,926. The number who died of disease was 9,133. The 
number of commissioned officers who died of wounds or in action 
was 249. The number who died of disease was 97. The total of 
all classes was 13,405. 

The State Legislature, from time to time, during the war, passed 
laws for the payment of bounties to soldiers enlisting. These 
bounties ranged from $50 to $150. The Quartermaster-General 
paid out in all nearly $2,000,000 for this purpose alone. He also 

In 1873, Mr. Grarclner became interested in the organization and con- 
struction of the Jonesville Cotton Factory. This is the first cotton 
factory in Michigan, and was erected by a joint stocli company, with a 
capital of $100,000, of which Mr. Gardner was elected president. 
Tlirough liis indomitable energy, and his extensive acquaintance, 
formed during Ms connection with the woolen mills, subscriptions were 
rapidly received for the entire amount of stock, and the factory is now 
in successful operation. The best grade of cloth made at the factory is 
branded "Gardner A." 

Mr. Gardner has been vice president of the Northwestern Manufac- 
turers' Association since its organization, and a director of the National 
Manufacturers' Association, the headquarters of which are at Boston. 

Through his correct business deportment, his long residence in the 
village, and the interest he has taken in every enterprise tending to 
increase its prosperity, Mr. Gardner is deservedly one of the most popu- 
lar citizens of Jonesville. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 527 

paid $60,000 as premiums for procuring recruits. Aside from 
these amounts, he paid out $815,000 for other purposes connected 
with the war. 

Besides these expenditures by the State, the aggregate amount 
expended by the several counties of the State for war purposes is 
something enormous. The amount paid for bounties by the coun- 
ties prior to December 19th, 1863, and liabilities; also liabilities 
under the act of 1865, amounted in the aggregate to $2,015,588. 

The aggregate expenditures and liabilities of the various town- 
ships, cities and wards of the counties in the State for war pur- 
poses was $8,157,748.70. The amount expended by the counties 
of the State from 1861 to 1867, for the relief of soldiers' families, 
was $3,591,248.12. 

Aside from the expenditures of the State government and of the 
municipalities, large sums were contributed by various benevolent 
societies, organized for the purpose of affording relief to sick and 
wounded soldiers. The Michigan Soldiers' Relief Association 
is said to have been the first of the kind put into the field, and the 
last to leave it. It was organized in 1861, and continued in 
operation till 1866. It was a source of great benefit to the sol- 
diers of Michigan, giving them many comforts and necessaries of 
which they would otherwise have been deprived. Its field of 
operations was in and around Washington, and was composed 
of citizens of Michigan who resided there, including the Congres- 
sional delegation. Its funds were at first raised by assessments on 
its individual members, but were afterwards largely augmented by 
contributions from all parts of the State. The cash contributed 
amounted to nearly twenty -five thousand dollars. This was exclu- 
sive of specific contributions of clothing and hospital stores, which 
were always furnished, with great liberality, by the various aid 
societies in the State. The services of the members of the associ- 
ation were in all cases rendered gratuitously. 

In addition to the Washington association, the people of the 
State organized, in 1862, the Michigan Soldiers' Relief Associa- 
tion. It continued in successful operation during the war, collect- 
ing and sending to the front such articles as were most needed by 
the sick and wounded soldiers. It also received $3,600 in cash, 



528 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

which was expended in furnishing relief to sick and destitute sol- 
diers ; in paying rent for the Soldiers' Home, in Detroit, and in 
providing refreshments for returned veterans. 

The Michigan Soldiers' Aid Society was another most useful 
association. This was a branch of the United States Sanitary 
Commission. It was organized in November, 1861, and kept its 
office open till 1866, and after that continued to supply destitute 
soldiers and soldiers' families. It forwarded to the front and dis- 
tributed at home 6,317 packages of articles which had been con- 
tributed in kind. From the date of its organization to 1868, it 
had expended in cash the sum of $28,129. 

These societies were largely aided, in 1864, by the Ladies Aid 
Society of Kalamazoo, under whose auspices a " Sanitary Fair " 
was held, which netted the handsome sum of $9,618.78. 

In addition to the aid furnished by these societies there were 
large amounts of both money and supplies sent by private parties. 
In fact, the history of the world does not furnish a parallel to the 
liberality with which the Union armies were sustained, and the 
soldiers relieved, by contributions from the people. Volumes 
would have to be written to give an adequate idea of the immense 
labor performed by these societies, and to enumerate their deeds 
of Christian charity. 

In February, 1864, the State Legislature appropriated $3,500 
for the purpose of paying the proportion of the State of the 
expenses of establishing a National Cemetery at Gettysburg. 
Hon. T. W. Ferry was appointed a commissioner to carry out the 
design. A further sum of $2,500 was appropriated for this pur- 
pose in 1865. This cemetery contains 3,559 bodies of Michigan 
soldiers. Numerically, Michigan stands third in the number slain 
on that battle-field. In proportion to her population, she stands 
first. Mr. Ferry closes his final report, made to the Governor in 
1864, as follows : 

" It will, however, matter little, xvho were immediately instru- 
mental in devising and developing the sacred memorial which is 
to hand down to future generations the lustrous records of patriots 
who prized country above life. 

" They will be forgotten, while shaft, and speech and song shall 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



529 



tell of battle and heroism to ages yet unborn. The decisive con- 
test — the turning strife of the war, from which victory, leaping 
from field to field, eventuated in peace, national liberty and 
reunion — this, this alone will be the enduring, emblazoning chap- 




HON. THOMAS W. FERRY. 

Thomas W. Ferry, United States {Senator from Michigan, was born at 
Mackinaw, Michigan, June 1, 1827. 

A little more than half a century ago, the fatlier of Senator Ferry 
emigrated from Massachusetts, and founded a mission school upon the 
Island of Mackinac. Here, for twelve years, in a somewhat social isola- 
tion, he maintained his school successfully, and only left his post when 
the government removed the Indians farther west. Leaving Mack- 
inac in a canoe with a couple of Indians as guides and oarsmen, he coasted 
along down the eastern and southern shores of Lake Michigan until he 
reached a military post where Chicago now stands. Returning part way, 
he chose the site where the city of Grand Haven now is as his future 
residence. 

34 



530 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

let which time shall weave for the gallant heroes who sleep 
beneath the shadow of the nation's mausoleum at Gettysburg." 

An appropriation of $3,344.48 was also made by the Ijegisla- 
ture to pay the proportion of the State for the purchase, prepara- 
tion and care of the National Cemetery at Sharpsburg, Maryland. 
In this cemetery rest 137 of Michigan's soldiers. Andersonviile, 
Georgia, which acquired such an unenviable notoriety during 
the war as a rebel prison pen, in which the most inhuman bar- 
barities were practiced, contains one of the most noted of the 
national cemeteries. It contains about 13,000 graves of Union 
soldiers, six hundred and twenty-three of whom were from Mich- 
igan. 

Michigan was not entirely free from war's alarms, notwithstand- 
ing her remoteness from the scene of conflict. Being on the 
Canadian border, she was much exposed to raids by rebel refugees 
who had taken up their residence in Canada. 

The following, condensed from Adjutant-General Robertson's 
report for 1864, is an account of the principal occurrence of the 
kind which affected the kState of Michigan: 

At that time there was not a white inhabitant in the entire county, and 
only three miserable log hnts broke the monotony of its dense pine forests. 
Here, through all the hardships and adversities of a pioneer life, the 
family dwelt, but after a time emigration set in, and better times dawned 
upon the little settlement. 

Mr. Ferry, the subject of this sketch, was but six j-ears of age when he 
left the Island of Mackinac, and going at that early day to where Grand 
Haven now stands, his educational advantages were very meagre, being 
only those offered by a pioneer settlement. Still, under home tutorship, 
he acquired a fair education and a good practical training. 

His tirst public occupation was supplying the settlement with mails 
jointly with his brother, William M. Ferry, by paddling a canoe to and 
from Grand Rapids during the season of navigation. Naturally active, 
he served on his father's farm and in his saw mill, and at a later date was 
clerk in a store in Illinois for two years. Returning, he rceJutered the 
employ of his father and remained with him until a partnership was 
formed between them, which continued until his father's death, in 18(37, 
since which time an extensive business, with his brother, E. P. Ferry, 
has been under the general control of Senator Ferry. In this position, 
he has exhibited a wide executive capacity, great industry, and an eutei"- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 531 

"In November, 1863, the War Department was officially notified 
by the British Minister, Lord Lyons, that, from a telegraphic 
dispatch received by him from the Governor-General of Canada, 
there was reason to believe that a plot Avas on foot by persons 
hostile to the United States, who had found an asylum in Canada, 
to invade the States on that frontier ; that they proposed to take 
possession of some of the steamers on Lake Erie, to surprise 
Johnson's Island, near Sandusky, and set free the rebel prisoners of 
war confined there, and proceed with them to attack Buffalo. 
This information was communicated by the War Department to 
the Governors of the States bordering on Canada, and to the mili- 
tary and civil authorities thereof, and urging them to employ all 
the means in their power to suppress any attempt to carry the 
plot into effect. That there was such a scheme on foot, and that 
it was concocted and put in operation in Canada by the rebel gov- 
ernment, there can be no doubt, as circumstances have transpired 
and documentary evidence been received during the past year 
fully confirming it, and that its execution was only prevented at 

prise that has made his management eminently prosperous. In a readi- 
ness to engage in active pursuits, was laid the foundation for the energy 
and versatility which characterizes his public life. 

Mr. Ferry's early education was such as to cause him to unite with the 
old Whig party, with which he acted until the organization of the Repub- 
lican party, when, imbibing the zeal of his father, he at once became a 
strong advocate of the principles put forward by that organization. 

His more than ordinary abilities soon brought him to the front, and we 
find him holding the office of county clerk of Ottawa county before he 
attained his majority. 

In 1850, he was elected a representative to the State legislature and 
served two years. He also served two years as State senator from 1857, 
and was a member of the Republican State central committee for eight 
years. He was a delegate to the convention at Chicago which nominated 
Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, and served as vice-president from 
Michigan in that body. In 1864, he was appointed to represent Michi- 
gan on the board of managers of the Gettysburg Soldiers' National 
Cemetery, which position he still retains. 

In 1864, he was elected representative to the Thirty-ninth Congress 
from the fourth district, and served on the committees on posf-oflBces and 
post-roads, militia and the war debts of the loyal States, and was selected as 



532 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

that time by the prompt measures taken by the military authori- 
ties in the States referred to ; and, although their plans were frus- 
trated, their determination was still to carry them into effect, and 
their execution was only deferred until a more favorable oppor- 
tunity. During the present year the United States military oflS- 
cers, and also the civil and military authorities of the State, have 
been almost daily in the receipt of rumors and reports from various 
sources of contemplated raids to be made on American frontier 
cities, and on the shipping of the lakes, to burn and destroy, many 
of which could not be traced to any reliable origin, yet they 
served to keep up a continual state of excitement and alarm in 
the cities and villages on the border of the State, and to require 
the vigilant attention of the authorities ; and all the preparations 
within their power to successfully meet any attempted invasion 
of the State were made, which were considered at the time ample 
to repel any force that might be expected of that description. 
Yet, notwithstanding, there was a distrust and a nervous forebod- 
ing of coming mischief amongst the people of the frontier cities 

the representative from Michigan to accompany the funeral cortege which 
bore tlie remains of President Lincoln from Washington to liis home in 
Illinois. He was reelected to the Fortieth, Forty -first and Forty second 
Congresses by increased majorities, and served in the sessions of the 
Fortieth and Forty-first on some of the most important committees 
of the House. Being subsequently elected to the United States Senate, 
after a heated contest, to succeed the Hon. Jacob M. Howard, he did not 
take his seat in the House of the Forty -second Congress. 

He took his seat in the Senate, March 4, 1871; was appointed a mem- 
ber of the committees on finance, post-offices and post-roads, and on the 
District of Columbia, and is now also chairman of the committee on the 
revision of the rules. 

Mr. Ferry's course in Congress, both in the House and in the Senate, 
has been such as commends him to the people of his State, and the 
United States. He has labored zealously to forward the interests of 
Michigan and to promote the welfare of the whole country. He has done 
much to perfect our postal system, his work on this committee eliciting 
the highest praise from the press throughout the Union. To his efforts, 
Michigan is greatly indebted for the generous harbor and river appropria- 
tions she has received, which aid so materially in developing her vast 
resources, and in the preservation of the lives and property of her 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 533 

and villages. This distrust also prevailed among the railroad 
agencies, and those engaged in the shipping on the lakes, which 
led to the arming of the community generally as individuals, and 
of railroad trains and lake and river steamers, and to the estab- 
lishing of safeguards about private dwellings, public places of 
business, and railroad depots. This condition of affairs continued ; 
no overt act having been committed, and no visible combination 
of force having been traced to any locality until the nineteenth 
day of September, 1864, when they concluded to make the attempt 
by seizing the steamer Philo Parsons, belonging to Detroit, and 
running as a passenger boat from that point to Sandusky, in the 
State of Ohio. On the morning of the day above referred to, four 
of the raiders, including Bennett G. Burley, one of their apparent 
leaders, took passage on the said boat at Detroit. On her way 
down the Detroit river, on her passage to Sandusky, she landed 
at the Canadian ports of Sandwich and Amherstburg, where the 
balance of the raiders got on board, the whole numbering about 
thirty. 

" Those who went aboard at the latter place, brought Avith them 
a large trunk, which, as was afterwards ascertained, contained arms 

sailors. He has labored earnestly for the protection of Michigan's lum- 
ber interests, and in the cause of her soldiers and sailors who went 
bravelj^ to the front in defense of the Union. His efiort to convert the 
beautiful Island of Mackinac into a national park is but one illustration 
of the intense interest he takes in the advancement of his State, from 
which he is the first senator to the manor born. 

Mr. Ferry received a very complimentary vote for president pro tem- 
pore of the Senate, and only for Senator Carpenter's seniority would 
undoubtedly have been elected to that important position. 

As an orator, Mr. Ferry's powers lie mainly in extempore debate. He 
speaks from brief notes with great fluency, his style possessing directness, 
vigor and business brevity. 

He is a man of good personal presence, and, being free from all pre- 
sumption, his manner invites acquaintance. He is modest and genial, 
and although eminently successful in business and politics, he makes no 
attempt at display. In conversation, he is ready and animated and enters 
into all discussions with an earnestness that carries gre^t force with it. 
He is generous, and gave freely to the families of the soldiers who were 
absent doing duty for their country. 



534 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

and ammunition. After the boat had left Kelly's Island, three 
men came up to the clerk, drew their revolvers, and ordered him 
into the ladies' cabin. They then proceeded to arm themselves 
from the trunk, and took possession of the boat. At Middle Bass 
Island they captured the Island Queen, another steamer, together 
with some twenty-five United States soldiers, who were on board. 
They then started directly for Sandusky, with the Island Queen 
alongside. They cast the latter adrift, however, in about an hour. 

" In the meantime, the government had been apprised of the 
intended movement, and the officers of the steamer Michigan, 
which was guarding Johnson's Island, were on the alert, and 
those who were in the plot at Sandusky were arrested. The con- 
sequence was that when the Parsons reached within about two 
miles of the Michigan, not seeing the signals that had been agreed 
upon, they turned around and steamed back to Detroit river, 
landed at Sandwich, on the Canada side, and abandoned the expe- 
dition. Thus ingloriously terminated the only raid that disturbed 
the peace of the inhabitants of Michigan during the war. It 
created intense excitement at the time, more from the uncertainty 
regarding the strength of the rebel force than from any damage 
that was actually done." 

At the time Governor Crapo entered upon the performance of 
the duties of his office, in 1865, he found the State burthened with 
a bonded debt of $3,541,149.80, with a balance in the treasury of 
$440,047.27. There had been expended by the State for war pur- 
poses, the year before, the sum of $823,216.75. The war soon 
closed, but the obligations of the State were still existing, and the 
expenditures were, consequently, enormous. A season of great 
commercial prosperity followed ; but, at the close of his first 
administration, the bonded debt of the State had increased to 
$8,977,921.25. There had been paid out of the war fund during 
that time $1,099,355.20. At the close of his second term the debt 
had been reduced to $3,614,078.49, with a balance in the treasury 
of $1,130,229.67. 

The events of this and the subsequent administrations are so 
fresh in the recollection of all, that only the leading features are 
noticed, leaving to subsequent chapters the summing up of results 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 535 

and the present condition of the State. By this method a clearer 
view of the whole may be obtained, as each interest will be dis- 
cussed under its proper head. 

For a long period after Michigan was erected into a State, the 
marked advantages which it possessed were but little known and 
appreciated. The report that its soil was with difficulty brought 
under cultivation sent many emigrants to the more western 
States ; but, during the last few years, the superiority of its loca- 
tion, " the great value of its forests of timber, its immense and 
rich mineral resources, its healthful climate, its productive soil, 
beautiful lakes and rivers, the high character and flourishing con- 
dition of its educational and charitable institutions, the prosperous 
state of its finances, the light burden imposed upon the people by 
way of taxation, and the general prudence and economy of its 
government, have come to be fully understood, and have all com- 
bined to give the State the prominence and high character to 
which it is justly entitled." 

The vacant lands of the State are being rapidly taken up by an 
industrious and prudent class of settlers. Railroads traverse the 
State in almost every direction, and are being rapidly carried 
forward to the utmost extremities of both peninsulas. This great 
prosperity of the present, to which the State has attained, grandly 
foreshadows its future importance. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



Governor Henry P. Baldwest's Administration — Steady Growth 
OP the State — Constitutional Amendment — Governor Bald- 
win's Re-election — The State Capitol — The Great and De- 
structive Fires in Michigan — The Soldiers' and Sailors' 
Monument — Administration of Governor Bagley. 

Henry P. Baldwin, on being called to the high office of Gov- 
ernor of Michigan, in 1868, found the afiairs of the State in a 
much more prosperous and satisfactory condition than they were 
when his predecessor took his seat. He found the nation at peace. 
The integrity of the Union had been secured, and freedom fully 
guaranteed to all in the land. There was, indeed, cause for heart- 
felt gratitude for the blessings of peace, for the abundance of the 
harvests, for the rewards of labor, and for the moral, intellectual, 
and material advancement of the people. 

Perhaps no period in the history of the State has been marked 
by a more steady and healthful growth in population, and in the 
wealth of the people of Michigan, than that of Mr. Baldwin's 
administration. It was estimated that, in 1869, the taxable valu- 
ation of real and personal j^roperty in the State amounted to 
$400,000,000, while, in 1871, it exceeded $630,000,000. 

There was nothing remarkable in the course of legislation dur- 
ing the year 1869, but in the year following a question of consider- 
able importance grew out of a Supreme Court decision, which 
caused the Governor, in July, to summon the Legislature, in extra 
session. A series of laws, enacted at five successive sessions of the 
Legislature, and approved by three successive Governors, had, by 
the decision mentioned, been pronounced unconstitutional and 
void. These laws Avere intended to enable the people of either 
counties, townships, cities, or incorporated villages, in their cor- 
porate capacity, to aid in the construction of railroads. Under 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. boi 

the authority contained in these laws, securities or bonds for a 
very considerable amount had been delivered, and were then held 
by parties who had purchased them in good faith. 

As this emergency could only be provided for by an amend- 
ment of the fundamental law of the State, the Governor earnestly 
recommended that an amendment to the Constitution be submit- 




MYRON BUTMAN. 

Myron Butman was born in Milan, Erie county, Ohio, October 5, 1826. 
In 1855, he removed to Michigan and settled at Saginaw City, where he 
has been largely engaged in the lumber trade to the present time. He 
has through his constant exertions secured for himself quite a fortune 
and built up a business of considerable magnitude. Mr. Butman is one 
of the prominent citizens of Saginaw City, and is much respected by a 
wide circle of friends and acquaintances. 



538 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ted to the people at the general election to be held in November, 
1870, such as would enable the several municipalities to ratify all 
such l-ailroad aid bonds as had been issued and delivered to the 
people. This recommendation was duly carried out by the Legis- 
lature, and the necessary amendment submitted to the people, but 
was by them defeated. 

At the expiration of Mr. Baldwin's first term, he took Bis seat 
for a second term of two years, having been reelected in November, 
1870. On the meeting of the Legislature in January, 1871, he 
found the aflfairs of the State in a condition of great prosperity ifl 
all departments. This was in no small degree due to the wise 
policy suggested by him, and executed by the Legislature during 
the previous session. The population of the State had increased 
from 749,113 to 1,184,059 in the decade preceding, and £he assessed 
valuation of the real and personal property of the State had 
increased from $172,055,808 in 1861, to $630,000,000 in 1871. 

By an act of Congress previously passed, it was made the duty 
of the Legislature to cause a new apportionment of the State into 
Congressional districts. From 1863 to 1870, Michigan had been 
entitled to six representatives in the lower branch of the national 
legislature ; but, according to this last apportionment, which waS 
based upon the ninth census, the number was increased to nine. 

During the last two years of Mr. Baldwin's administration the 
question of building of the new State Capitol engrossed much of 
his attention. The Legislature received the full benefit of his 
wise counsel concerning this important project in his second regu- 
lar message to it, which was convened in extra session in March, 
1872. Most of his plans were acceded to by the Legislature, and 
all thus adopted have resulted in the better advancement of that 
object. 

During 1870, the one-eighth mill tax for the purpose of consti- 
tuting a sinking fund, was abolished, ample provision for the pay- 
ment of the funded debt of the State having been made by setting 
apart some of the trust fund receipts, and such portion of the 
specific taxes as were not required for the payment of interest on 
the public debt. This caused a reduction -in the Slate tax of 
$78,750. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



539 



The year 1871 must ever be remembered, on account of its great 
fires in several of the northwestern States. While the good peo- 
ple of Michigan were engaged in the noble work of furnishing 
relief to the sufferers by the great Chicago fire, the same devour- 




HON. THOMAS H. BOTTOMLEY. 

Among the representative men of St. Clan- county, is tlie Hon. Thomas 
H. Bottomley. He was born in the town of Southouram, Yorkshire, Eng- 
land, on the 5th day of October, 1837, where his early life was spent. 

Mr. Bottomley was educated at the Saltrauble Academy, Yorkshire, 
England, receiving a liberal education. He came to the United States in 
the year 1854, and took up his residence in the city of Bufialo, New 
York. Here he resided until 1856, when he emigrated to New Baltimore, 
Macomb county, where, by his great energy and business tact, he placed 
himself in comfortable circumstances, and gained the respect of his 



540 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ing element was making sad havoc in our own State. Thriving 
towns, farm and school-houses, churches, live stock, crops, and thou- 
sands of acres of valuable timber were consumed. Nearly three 
thousand families, or about eighteen thousand persons, were ren- 
dered houseless, and deprived of the necessaries of life. Relief 
committees were organized at Detroit and Grand Rapids, and in a 
short time there was subscribed by individuals and corporations 
within the State, and paid over to these committees, the sum of 
$462,106, besides two hundred and fifty thousand dollars' worth 
of clothing. 

So prompt and bountiful were the donations, that, believing the 
people of Michigan would be unwilling to tax a generous public 
any longer than was necessary, the Governor issued a proclama- 
tion, thanking the public for their noble charity, and announcing 
that further contributions were unnecessary. 

One of the most notable events that happened during the 
administration of Governor Baldwin was the dedication of the 
Soldiers and Sailors' Monument at Detroit, which event occurred 
on the ninth day of April, 1872. This monument was designed 
by Randolph Rogers, a native of Michigan, and one of the most 
eminent of American sculptors now living. The money required 
to erect this beautiful tribute to the heroes of the war was raised 
by subscription, the people from all parts of the State contribut- 
ing most liberally to the object. The association under whose 
auspices the subscriptions were raised and the work done, was 

fellow-citizens. From there lie removed to Romeo, where an extensive 
business was perfected in hoop-skirts, etc., in 1865, and remained until 
the spring of 1872, from which place he removed to the village of Capac, 
St. Clair county, where his good qualities were soon ascertained by the 
people, and were rewarded by his nomination and election as represen- 
tative of the third district of that county, in the State legislature, in 
November, 1872. He served in that body during its session of 1872-3. 

Mr. Bottomley has held several offices of trust in the different places 
where he has resided, which invariably were administered with credit to 
himself and fellow-citizens. At present he is one of the largest mer- 
chants in the village where he resides, and is doing a profitable business, 
not only in the mercantile line, but also as the contractor of the Lynn 
and Maple valley State ditch. 




MICHIGAN SOLDIERS' AND SAILOES' MONUJMJ-^XT. 



542 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

incorporated in 1868, and it is due to the indefatigable exertions 
of its oiEcers and members that the work has been successfully 
accomplished. The monument is about forty-six feet in height, 
and is surmounted by a colossal statue of Michigan in bronze, ten 
feet in height. She is represented as a semi-civilized Indian 
Queen, with a sword in her right hand and a shield in her left. 
Beneath the plinth on which she stands are stars and wreaths. 
On the next section, in front, is the dedication : " Erected by the 
People of Michigan, in honor of the Martyrs who fell and the 
Heroes who fought in defense of Liberty and Union." On the 
right are the arms of the United States, and on the left are the 
arms of the State of Michigan. On the next section beloAV are 
four projecting hutments, on which will be seated, when the monu- 
ment is finished, four allegorical figures . in bronze, representing 
Victory, Union, Emancipation and History. These figures are all 
that now remain to be placed in position. This will be done as 
soon as sufficient funds are raised. The next section below con- 
tains four projecting butmeuts, upon which are standing the 
defenders of Liberty and Union, the representations of the army 
and navy. These consist of four bronze statues, seven feet high, 
soldiers of infantry, artillery and cavalry, and a sailor of the 
navy. On the panels are various bassi relievi and inscriptions. 
On the outer pedestals are four bronze eagles. 

It was originally intended to place the monument in the Grand 
Circus, and it was there that the ceremony of laying the earner- 
stone was performed, on the Fourth of July, 1867. But, at the 
earnest solicitation of the sculptor, Mr. Rogers, it was placed on 
the Campus Martins. An immense concourse of people were 
present upon the occasion of unveiling the monument. Every 
part of the State, and almost every society in the State, was rep- 
resented. Not less than one hundred thousand people were pres- 
ent. The address was delivered by ex-Governor Austin Blair. 

The four years in which Governor Baldwin administered the 
affairs of Michigan were four years of prosperity. The functions 
of the various offices of the State government were discharged 
with integrity and ability, and on the first of January, 1873, Mr. 
Baldwin passed the management of the executive affairs into the 
hands of Hon. John J. Bagley, his successor. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 543 

In reference to the administration of Governor Bagley, ^vhich 
began in January, 1873, but little can be said, for, at this writing, 
less than half of his term of office has expired. In his inaugural 
message to the Legislature, in January, 1873, he truly said that, 
" the growth of the State in every direction, through the develop- 
ment of our great natural resources, was a surprise even to our- 
selvAes." 

With this brilliant condition of affairs, Mr. Bagley's adminis- 
tration was inaugurated. The session of the Legislature begin- 
ning in January was in all points successful. Every interest of 
the State received due and proper encouragement, while a spirit 
of enlightened economy seemed to pervade all its deliberations. 

The Governor's recommendations were received with a due 
regard for the wise policy which they contained, and, in the 
absence of any radical measures, the session may be regarded as 
mainly characterized by diligent labor for the common welfare of 
the State. The most important act was that making it the duty 
of the Governor to appoint a Constitutional Commission, whose 
duty it should be to revise the Constitution of the State, and pre- 
sent the result of their labors to the next regular or extra session 
of the Legislature. This Commission was duly appointed by the 
Governoi", and it has already finished its work. Of the result of 
its labors it is here manifestly improper to speak, as its work is 
now under consideration by the people. 

Having come to the end of the list of Governors, and noticed 
the principal events in their several administrations, we will close 
our work with a short notice of the present condition, prosperity 
and advancement of the State. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 



Present Condition of Michigan Eailroads. 

In the preceding chapters we have given, with some minute- 
ness, the history of the early settlement of the Territory up to the 
time of its admission into the Union as a State ; and then briefly 
traced the leading events of its history after it became a State, 
down to the present time. It is now proposed to take up the lead- 
ing institutions of the State separately, and record their history 
and development. The mention of them thus far has been pur- 
posely avoided, in order to save repetition. The mention of the 
resources and productions of the State has also been avoided, for 
the same reason. The intelligent reader will not fail to recognize 
the propriety of this plan, inasmuch as, while it seems at first 
glance to necessitate much repetition, it in reality avoids it. 

The State of Michigan, although possessing a population of 
nearly, if not quite, a million and a half, and an amount of accu- 
mulated wealth that will far surpass that of many of the older 
States, is, nevertheless in her infancy. Whilst her growth has 
been marvelous, and the development of her resources enormous, 
she has, nevertheless, been retarded in her growth, to a great 
extent, by several untoward circumstances. Prominent among 
these is the ignorance which prevails, outside her borders, regard- 
ing her great natural advantages. This ignorance has been 
caused, first, by the fact, which has been recorded in a preceding 
chapter, that the surveyor employed by Congress to survey lands 
set apart for soldiers' bounties, made a report to that body which 
contained a statement that the soil of Michigan was almost com- 
pletely barren, and that, on that account, together with another 
alleged fact, that it was extremely unhealthy, the Territory was 
utterly unfit for a human habitation. It took many years to dis- 
pel the prejudice thus engendered, if, indeed, it has ever been 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



545 



thoroughly eradicated from the public mind. Again, the State 
authorities have persistently neglected to adopt such means to 
increase immigration as have usually been resorted to by other 
western States. Many of the northwestern States have been built 




HON. JOHN BALL. 

John Ball, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was born in the White Moun- 
tain region of New Hamphsire, in the year 1794. 

His early years were passed upon a farm, and it was mainly through 
his own excrlions that he prepared himself for and obtained a collegiate 
education. He graduated from Dartmouth College in the class of 1820, 
and among his classmates were George P. Marsh and Rufus Choatc. 

After leaving college, he engaged in teaching school at Lansinburgh, 
Rensselaer county. New York, and there he also commenced the study of 
the law. 

Shortly afterwards, he shipped from New York, and on his first voy- 
age was shipwrecked oti the coast of Georgia, where he barely escaped 
with his life. 

35 



546 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

up, in a great measure, by the circulation of books and pamphlets 
showing the advantages they possess as a home for the tens of 
thousands who annually laud upon our shores. ' Michigan has 
never had the advantage of a proper representation abroad regard- 
ing her resources and characteristics. So long as this state of 
affairs continues, Michigan is liable to be gi'ossly misrepresented 
abroad, as, indeed, she has been, by those interested in diverting 
the tide of immigration to other States. It is to be hoped that 
this will be remedied in the future. 

The area of the territory of the State of Michigan is over 56,000 
square miles; being more than 10,000 square miles larger than 
either the State of New York or Pennsylvania; more than 16,000 
square miles larger than Ohio, and nearly equal in size to the 
whole of New Eugland. When as thickly populated as Massa- 

Passing the winter at Darien, Georgia, he again devoted his time to 
teacliing, and while there, he for the first time saw the practical work- 
ings of the institution of human slavery, and noted its pernicious eflfects 
upon both master and slave. 

Returning to New York, he engaged in the practice of the law with 
fair prospects of success, but was soon called away to the superintend- 
ency of a manufacturing business. 

On New Year's Day, 1832, Mr. Ball left Lansingburgh for Oregon, 
taking a very ditierent route there than travelers do at the present day. 
He went from home to Baltimore, Maryland, by sleigh. Starting west- 
ward from here, he traveled by horse-power over the Baltimore and Clio 
Railroad, a distance of sixty miles, whicli was at that time the longest 
line of railway on the continent. Crossing the AUeghanies, he reached 
Pittsburg, from whence he went by steamboat to St. Louis, Missouri, 
which was then but a small village, mostly on one street. 

Joining a party of fur traders here, headed by William Lublette, he 
went up the Missouri to Lexington, from whence, on the 12th of May, 
1833, the company, consisting of about eighty men, with three hundred 
liorses and mules, started for the interior. 

In their journey, they crossed the Rocky Mountains, through the cele- 
brated South Pass, which was discovered ten years later by Colonel 
Fremont. Crossing the head waters of the Colorado river, they reached 
the Columbia, and from this point, Lublette and his party returned to St. 
Louis, while Mr. Ball, witli eleven others, traveled on to Walla- Walla, 
then a post of the Hudson Bay Company, where, leaving their horses, 
they descended the Columbia to the Pacific. 



HISTORY OF MICEaOAN. 547 

chusetts now is, she will possess more than nine millions of inhab- 
itants. Surrounded on almost all sides by noble inland seas, her 
shores are washed by fourteen hundred miles of navigable waters. 
The productions of her soil are more varied than that of any 
other State in the Union. Most other States are practically lim- 
ited to some one or two staple productions. Michigan can pro- 
duce, in the greatest abundance, every variety of fruit, grain and 
vegetable belonging to her latitude. Her immense forests of 
choicest timber are of incalculable value, giving employment to 
thousands of men in converting it into lumber, and to railroads 
and ships in conveying it to market, thereby creating a home 
demand for much of her surplus agricultural products. Her 
hard-wood forests are of immense value and extent, aud the soil 
that underlies them is unsurpassed in fertility. Her fisheries are 

Mr. Ball spent the winter at Fort Vancouver, where he taught the first 
public school opened in Oregon. The succeeding spring he engaged in 
farming, and after harvesting Iiis crops, took passage for the Sandwich 
Islands in an English vessel, which in its voyage lay for some days at 
San Francisco, which was then only a Jesuit mission station, and was a 
mingled scene of forest, sand-hills and wild cattle. From the Sandwich 
Islands he sailed in a whaler around Cape Horn to Kio .Janeiro. From 
this city, as clerk to Lieutenant (since Commodore) Farragut, he shipped 
on the United States schooner Boxer, for Norfolk, Virginia, and from 
thence to Baltimore, the point of his departure. 

Mr. Ball's memoranda of his overland journey, published in SulUmn's 
Journal, and afterwards translated into German, were the first scientific 
accounts of the geology and climate of Oregon that were published. 

After his return, he engaged for a year or two in the practice of his 
profession in Troy, New York, and in September, 1836, he emigrated to 
Michigan. From Detroit he traveled on horseback to Kalamazoo, and 
from there north to the Grand River. At that time he found Mr. Marsac 
at the mouth of the Flat River, Mr. Rix Robinson at the mouth of the 
Thorn Apple, a few hundred settlers at Grand Rapids, a small settlement 
at Grandville and another at Grand Haven, all subsisting on game, and 
on provisions brought from Bufialo and Cleveland. 

In 1837, Mr. Ball was elected to the lower house of the State legislature, 
his district being composed of the four counties of Ottawa, Kent, Ionia 
and Clinton. 

In 1842, he was appointed to locate, for the State, the half million 
acres of land granted by the general government for internal improve- 



548 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

of great value, and even now there are not more than four 
States in the Union whose fisheries produce larger returns. A 
great portion of her territory is underlaid by vast beds of mineral 
deposits. No State in the Union possesses such a great extent and 
variety of mineral resources as Michigan. Her copper is of great 
purity, and immense, incalculable value. Her iron ore is the 
richest and best in the Union, and the extent of the deposits of 
this metal is probably unsurpassed. Extensive fields of coal also 
underlie the State — enough to feed the furnaces of the world. 
Vast beds of gypsum are to be found in various parts of the State, 
and iu close proximity to railroads and navigable waters. Numer- 
ous saline wells abound in the Saginaw Valley, and other parts 
of the State, of unsurpassed strength and inexhaustible yield. 

These are some of the great natural resources of Michigan, and 
which, when properly developed, are destined to make her one of 
the most prosperous and populous, as well as one of the most 
wealthy States in the Union. 

Again, as a manufacturing State her facilities are unsurpassed. 

ments, which task he faithfully performed, personally inspecting all the 
lands located by him. 

From that time he has resided in Grand Rapids, and has been engaged 
in his profession and in real estate operations. He is well known 
throughout the western portion of the State, and has been instrumental 
in turning the tide of emigration in that direction. He also takes a deep 
interest in public education, and the present prosperous condition of the 
schools in the city of his residence is largely due to his unwearied efforts 
in their behalf. 

In politics, from the first, he has been a firm and consistent Democrat, 
and has ever been distinguished for his advocacy of the rights of man, 
and for his loyalty to the Union ; and those sentiments were fitly 
expressed upon the memorable occasion when he presided as chairman 
over the meeting of citizens called to express their indignation at the 
firing upon Fort Sumter. 

Mr. Ball remained single until 1850, when he married Miss Mary T. 
Webster, of New Hampshire. He has a family of five children. 

He has spent the last two years and six months in Europe, traveling 
with his family, and has just returned to his home in Michigan, satisfied 
from his observations of foreign governments, customs and climates, that 
there is no better country and no more fortunate people than his own. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



549 



She possesses not only the raw material for many of the leading 
staple manufacturing products of the country, but also, in the 
greatest abundance, the necessary supplies for the sustenance of 
those employed in manufacturing establishments. She not only 




HON. JAY A. HUBBELL. 

Jay a. Hubbell, of Houghton, Houghton county, Michigan, member 
of Congress from the ninth district, was born at Avon, Oakland county, 
Michigan, September 15, 1839. His father, Samuel Hubbell, a native of 
the State of New York, came to that town about 1820, being one of the 
earliest settlers of that portion of the State, where he cultivated a farm 
until his death in 1870. The subject of this sketch, until the age of 
eighteen years, bore his part in the usual farm labors, and there laid the 
foundation of the robust health and strength he has since enjoyed. 

After two years of preparatory study at Romeo and Rochester, made 
more than usually arduous by a painful disease of the eyes, which had 
often interrupted and at times had for long periods suspended application 



550 GENERAL HISTORY OF TfiE STATES. 

possesses, to a great extent, a home market for these products, but 
can reach a vast western market at less expense than can those 
portions of our country now supplying such market. 

How the people of Michigan are availing themselves of these 
advantages, the following pages Avill attempt to show. 

The first railroad enterprise in the State was inaugurated, as 
we have already seen, by the granting of the charter of the 
Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad, by the Legislative Council of the 
Territory, in 1832. By the terms of the law, the State reserved 
the right to purchase the road at a price not exceeding its cost and 
interest at fourteen per cent. Within two years from this time, 
work was commenced between Detroit and Ypsilauti, and, up to 
the time of the admission of the State into the Union, in 1837, 
about $30,000 had been expended. When this event occurred, 
almost the first thing the State Legislature did was to pass " an 
act to provide for the construction of certain works of public 
improvement, and for other purposes." This act provided, among 
other things, for the purchase of the Detroit and St. Joseph Rail- 
to books, he entered the University at Ann Arbor, in the sopliomore class, 
and graduated in the year 1853. 

After reading law for two years at Pontiac and Detroit, he was, in 
ISoo, admitted to the bar by the supreme court, at its session at Adrian. 
Immediately after admission, Mr Hubbell went to Ontonagon, in the 
Upper Peninsula, where he formed a law co-partnership with Hon. A. 
H. Hanscora. 

In 1838, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Ontonagon county 
and district attorney of the Upper Peninsula. From this time until 
1860, in which year he removed to Houghton county and opened an 
office, Mr. Hubbell was in active practice and took a prominent and 
growing part in the public affairs of the county in which he then resided, 
and laid the foundation of an extensive acquaintance with the citizens 
and business interests of the Upper Peninsula, into all parts of which 
he was required to go in the discharge of his duties as district attorney. 

In 1860, he commenced practice in Houghton county, the mining inter- 
ests of which were just beginning to develop. 

From that time until 1871, at which date he gave up active practice, he 
was an industrious and successful lawyer, being elected district attorney 
for another term and prosecuting attorney of Houghton county for tkree 
terms. ^ 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 551 

road, and, under its provisions, that road passed into the hands of 
the State, and its name was changed to the Michigan Central. 
Laws were passed authorizing a loan by the State of $5,000,000 
for internal improvements. Between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000 
were subsequently realized from this loan, but the monetary 
crash of 1837 caused the corporators who had taken the loan to 
become insolvent. This left the State, for the time being, utterly 
powerless to proceed with the great plans it had marked out. 
These plans, as we have before seen, were to construct three 
through routes across the State ; one terminating at Port Huron, 
another at Detroit, and a third at Monroe. A canal was also 
projected from Clinton river to Kalamazoo. A large sum was 
expended on this enterprise, but it was finally abandoned. The 
northern road was graded some distance west from Port Huron, 
and also abandoned. The State proceeded with the construction 
of the Central road until it reached Kalamazoo. In the mean- 
time, it became apparent that the State was far from being a 
shrewd railroad manager. There were no funds in the treasury to 

A strong Republican, he took an energetic part in politics, making 
political addresses in several counties during the Presidential campaign 
of 1868. In the same year, he was sent to Washington by the people of 
the copper mining district to aid in securing a higher tariff upon copper, 
being successful and returning in the summer of that year. At the Con- 
gressional convention of the sixth district (in which Houghton county 
was then embraced), Mr. Hubbell was a prominent candidate. On the 
formation of the ninth district, comprising the whole Upper Peninsula, 
embracing nine counties, and eighteen counties in the Lower Peninsula, 
Mr. Hubbell was nominated for Congress by the Republican convention, 
held at Ludington, in the summer of 1873. In the excited campaign 
which followed, he addressed political meetings in nearly every county 
in this large district, and was elected by a majority of 6,405 votes over 
Mr. Samuel P. Ely, of Marquette, the total number of votes cast being 
17,511. 

Mr. Hubbell is a fluent, and has shown himself both at the bar and on 
the stump an unusually forcible and convincing speaker. Through a 
profitable legal practice, and by judicious investment of money in many 
of the leading and most prosperous enterprises of his section, Mr. Hub- 
bell has acquired a property so considerable as to make further applica- 
tion to business unnecessary. It is fair to presume that the energy and 



552 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

meet the Internal Improvement warrants, and they depreciated In 
value to an enormous extent. The road as far as built was rap- 
idly wearing out, the old strap rail having been used, and the 
State had neither money nor credit to repair it. The consequence 
was that the Legislature of 1846 concluded to sell the road. This 
was soon effected, and it passed into the hands of eastern capital- 
ists, $2,000,000 being the amount paid for the road and its fran- 
chises. The company were required to re-lay the road with T 
rail, and complete the road to Lake Michigan with the same rail. 
They were also allowed to change the terminus to any point in 
the State on Lake Michigan. Subsequently, they were allowed to 
change the western terminus to Chicago. The road was then 
pushed through with great rapidity, and is now one of the most 
magnificent and best equipped roads in the Union. 

The Southern road was also sold about the same time. That 
road had then been completed from Monroe to Palmyra, at a cost 
of over $1,000,000. The eastern terminus was afterwards fixed 
at Toledo. A perpetual lease of the Erie and Kalamazoo road 
was efiected, and its indebtedness to the State assumed. The 
price paid to the State was $500,000, for the road and its appur- 
tenances. The Tecuraseh branch, running from Adrian to Man- 
chester, and the Palmyra and Jacksonburg road, subsequently 
known as the Jackson division of the Southern, were also included 
in the sale. The former road had then been completed as far as 
Tecumseh. Immediate preparations were then made to complete 
the road westward. The work progressed slowly for some time, 
however, owing to the want of- means ; but, subsequently, a con- 
trolling interest in the stock passed into the hands of a few 

enthusiasm which have always marked his professional and political 
career, and his very extensive acquaintance with the men and interests 
of his widely extended district, will render him as effective and useful in 
the more extended career now opened before him as in his past life. He 
is the first member of Congress ever sent from the Upper Peninsula, and 
will carry with him to Washington the best wishes of a large constitu- 
ency, who have confidently intrusted 1o his keeping the interests of a 
district comprising all the copper and iron mines and a large portion of 
the lumbering of the State. 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 



558 



wealthy men, and it was then pushed rapidly on to Chicago, arriv- 
ing there in advance of the Central. In 1855 it was consolidated 
with the Northern Indiana road. The next year, the Detroit, 
Monroe and Toledo road was chartered. This road was at once 




GEN. J. G. PARKHURST. 

John G. Parkhurst was born at Oneida Castle, New York, in 1824. 
His father, Steplien Parkliurst, was a native of New Hauipsliire, wlio 
removed from tliat State and settled in Oneida county, New York. 

Tlie subject of this sketcli received an academical education prepara- 
tory to entering college, and then entered upon the study of the law. In 
1847, he was admitted to practice, after having devoted thi'ee years to 
classical studies and four in a law office; seven years study then being 
required before an admission to the bar. Following his admission, he 
practiced his profession in his native town for two years. 

In 1849, he removed to Michigan and settled in Cold water, where he 
formed a co-partnership with the late Gorge A. Coe, who was then 



554 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

built, and a perpetual lease granted to the Southern, The sub- 
sequent consolidations with other roads and the building of other 
branches have made the Southern one of the finest and most exten- 
sive roads in the Union. 

The old Detroit and Pontiac Railroad was chartered in 1834, 
by the Legislative Council, with a capital stock of $100,000. A 
great deal of difficulty was experienced in the financial manage- 
ment of this enterprise, and many amusing stories are related illus- 
trating the troubles encountered. It was not till 1839 that the 
road was finally completed as far as Birmingham. The cars of 
this road were for some time propelled by horse power. It was 
finally sold under an execution, in 1840. It was completed to 
Pontiac in 1843, and subsequently leased to Detroit parties for ten 
years. Previous to the expiration of this lease, a company, headed 
by the Hon. H. N. Walker, purchased the road, and raised enough 
money on its bonds to re-lay the track. 

In April, 1848, a charter was granted to the Oakland and 
Ottawa Railroad Company. Work was not commenced on this 
road till 1852. The following year, Hon. H. N. Walker went to 

lieutenant-governor of the State. The business of this firm soon assumed 
large proportions and became quite lucrative. It continued until 1856, 
when Mr. Parkhurst succeeded to tlie whole and continued his practice 
until 1861, being part of the time prosecuting attorney for Branch 
county. 

In 1860, he was a delegate to the famous Charleston convention, and 
was secretary of that body. After the final adjournment at Baltimore, 
he published the proceedings of the convention. 

Upon the receipt of the news of the firing upon Fort Sumter, he 
addressed an impromptu meeting of citizens at the court house in Cold- 
water, and urged the immediate organization of troops for the defense of 
the flag and the preservation of the Union. The citizens of Branch 
county responded to his appeal to their patriotism by raising a company 
for the First Michigan Infantry, and also the celebrated Coldwater 
(Loomis') Battery. 

In consequence of the severe illness of his wife, who died in July, he 
did not enter the army until September. On the 10th of September, 1861, 
he was mustered into the service as lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Mich- 
igan Infantry, went with his regiment to Kentucky and reported to 
General Sherman for duty. Colonel Parkhurst served in Kentucky until 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 555 

Europe in the interests of this road, and purchased enough iron to 
lay the track as far as Fentonville. 

In 1855, the above two roads were consolidated, under the name 
of the Detroit and Milwaukee Eailway. The bonds of the com- 
pany were then negotiated in Europe, by Mr. Walker, to the 
amount of $1,250,000. A subsequent arrangement was made with 
the Great Western Railway Company, by which the financial 
embarrassments of the company were finally relieved. In 1860 
the mortgage was closed, and the name of the road changed to 
the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad. In the meantime, the 
road had been completed to Grand Haven, on the eastern shore 
of Lake Michigan, thus completing the three great through routes 
across the State which was originally contemplated by the State 
government. 

The monetary crisis of 1857 put a stop for several years to 
railroad enterprises in Michigan, and it was not till within the 
last eight years that operations were resumed. Within that time 
a large number of enterprises have been projected, and many of 
them carried successfully through. Railroad building in Michi- 

the spring of 18G2, when liis regiment was ordered into Tennessee and 
joined to the army of the Cumberland. 

At the battle of Murfreesboro, in July, 18fi2, he was taken prisoner, 
and was afterwards confined in the rebel prisons at Knoxville, Atlanta, 
Madisonville, Columbia, and at Libby prison in Richmond. Upon his 
exchange in December of that year, he returned to his home in Cold- 
water, and was given a public reception by its citizens. In response to 
the address of the mayor on this occasion, he gave the people a vivid 
account of his life in the prisons of the South, and there ventured the 
prediction that it would require a million of men and two years time to 
put down the rebellion and restore the Union. He urged upon the 
people to give up their speculations and to devote themselves and their 
means to the salvation of their country. 

Returning to the army again, he reported for duty to General Rose- 
crans, at Nashville, Tennessee, took command of his regiment and par- 
ticipated in the six days battle at Stone River, which terminated in a 
victory for the Union troops. Colonel Parkhurst was promoted for gal- 
lant conduct during this battle, received a distinguished compliment in 
the official report of General George H. Thomas, and immediately after 
the battle was assigned to duty as provost-marshal on the staff of Gen- 
eral Thomas. 



556 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

gan has been stimulated, to a certain extent, by the land grants 
made by Congress from time to time, and some projects have been 
carried successfully through that did not seem to be warranted by 
the present business or population along the line. But most of 
them are the outgrowth of commercial necessity, and consequently 
are not only likely to be paying investments of themselves, but 
exhibit the wonderful growth and material prosperity of the com- 
monwealth. 

Many of the roads which have been built within the last eight 
or nine years owe their existence to the enterprise of the men 
controlling the two great corporations known as the Michigan 
Central and the Michigan Southern Kailroads. Of the former, 
the Hon. James F. Joy has been the leading and controlling spirit 
for a number of years. Under his management the Michigan 
Central has not only risen to the position of being one of the most 
magnificent roads in existence, but has aided, directly or indi- 
rectly, in building a large number of tributary roads in the State 
of Michigan. 

The first road aided by the Michigan Central was the Jackson, 

After the battle of Chickamauga, he was made provost-uiarshal-gen- 
eral of the army of the Cumberland, and for gallant services was 
recommended to the President by General Thomas for a brigadier-general- 
ship in the army. 

Following the battle of Nashville, he was made provost-marshal- 
general of the military division of the Tennessee, which comprised the 
States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, and 
he retained this position until he left the service in November, 1865. 

General Parkhurst was upon the staff of General Thomas for three 
years of the war, and was in all the battles fought by that great military 
hero, having his entire confidence and continuing an intimate acquaint- 
ance until his lamented death in 1870, when he was selected by General 
Sherman as one of the escort to accompany the distinguished hero's 
remains to Troy, New York, for burial. 

Having married a lady in Tennessee, for his second wife, General 
Parkhurst contemplated settling in Nashville, and after leaving the army 
he opened a law office there, but finding the feeling towards Northern 
men not yet sufficiently mollified to make a residence there agreeable for 
an ex-provost-marshal-general of the Union army, he returned to his old 
residence in Coldwater, Michigan, in 1866. and was that year a candidate 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 557 

Lansing and Saginaw. Lansing was as far north as it was at first 
intended to go with this road ; but upon its completion to that 
place it was concluded to carry it to Saginaw. The Amboy, Lan- 
sing and Traverse Bay Railroad was then in operation between 
Lansing and Owosso, and the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw pur- 
chased its franchises, made it a part of their line, and carried it 
forward to Saginaw. This road is now in process of construction 
north to the Straits of Mackinaw, and the cars are running to 
Gaylord, two hundred and thirty-six miles north of Jackson. 
When completed, it will eventually form an important link in the 
Northern Pacific, and, in connection with the Detroit and Bay City 
road, will form practically an air line road from the Straits of 
Mackinaw to Detroit. It may be also mentioned, in this connec- 
tion, that the road from Marquette to Mackinaw, being now ren- 
dered certain to be built, will form a connection with this road 
which will bring Detroit three hundred and forty miles nearer 
Marquette than by any road now in existence, and will enable the 
former city to control the entire trade from the Upper Peninsula 
during the season when navigation is closed. 

The Grand River Valley road is another which has been mate- 

upon the people's ticket for lieutenant-governor of the State, and received 
the full vote of the ticket. 

In October, 1866, he was appointed United States marshal for the east- 
ern district of Michigan, but the Republicans in the United States Senate 
could not forgive his representing his district in the Philadelphia conven- 
tion held in the interest of President Johnson's policy, and when his 
appointment came up in 1867, they did not confirm it. 

Afterwards, he was made a s^Decial agent of the treasury department, 
which position he held until 1869. 

Since that year, he has devoted a good part of his time to the interests 
of his adopted city, and to him in a great measure is due the credit of 
securing for Coldwater the Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan 
Eailroad, and also the State public school. 

In the fall of 1873, lie was the candidate of the Democratic Liberal 
party for representative in Congress from the Third Congressional Dis- 
trict, and received the largest vote of any candidate on his ticket in the 
district. 

He is still residing in Coldwater, and is devoting his attention to agri- 
culture and to his other private business. 



558 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

rially aided by the Michigan Central. This road is ninety-four 
miles long, running north from Jackson to Grand Rapids. It 
there intersects the Detroit and Milwaukee road, and by means of 
that road connects with the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore 
road running north to Montague. 

The Jackson and Fort Wayne road is one hundred miles in 
length, its name indicating the termini. The Detroit, Eel River 
and Illinois road connects with this, as does also the Jackson, Lan- 
sing and Saginaw, thus giving the State two most important connec- 
tions with Indiana. Its connection with the latter road furnishes 
a route over which much of the lumber of northern Michigan 
passes on its way to the southern cities. 

The Michigan Air Line was originally intended as a short line 
from Chicago to Buffalo, crossing the St. Clair river at St. Clair, 
and connecting with the St. Clair branch of the Canada Southern. 
The Michigan Central aided in building it between Niles and 
Jackson, and finally absorbed and made it a part of its own sys- 
tem. It passes through a rich agricultural region, and shortens 
the distance of travel between Detroit and Chicago about fifteen 
miles. 

The Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana road was also built through 
the aid of the Michigan Central. It runs on the track of the 
Central between Detroit and Ypsilauti. The distance from the 
latter place to Hillsdale is sixty-five miles. This company took 
the franchises of the Eel River road from Butler to Logansport, 
Indiana, and has finished the road to the latter place. This road 
furnishes a direct route from Detroit to Indianapolis, via the 
Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago road. 

The Kalamazoo and South Haven road is forty miles in length ; 
is owned chiefly by the Michigan Central, and connects with the 
Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore road. 

The Chicago and iNIichigan Lake Shore road runs at present from 
New Buffalo, Berrien county, to Pentwater. Its ultimate destina- 
tion is Manistee, a distance of about two hundred miles. A 
branch twenty-four miles long has been built from Holland to 
Grand Rapids. This road was consolidated, in 1872, with the 
Muskegon and Big Rapids road, the latter being now completed. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN, 



559 



The main line of the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore road, north 
of Grand Haven, is operated by the Michigan Central, and, with 
the Grand River Valley road, constitutes a direct line from 




SMITH R. WOOLLEY. 

Smith R. Woolley was born in 1840, in Bridgewater, New Yorlv. He 
moved to Michigan, witli his parents, in 1847, and was left an orphan in 
1851. Being left at the tender age of eleven years, without any means of 
support, he engaged with a farmer, with whom he remained until 1853, 
when he visited Detroit and obtained a situation in the banking house of 
W. H. King & Co. He remained in this house until 1834, when he 
accepted a position ins the^ibankingi_housei of C. &^A. Ives, where he 



560 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Detroit to the western part of the State. These roads afford an 
outlet for an immense amount of pine lumber. 

The Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan is the result of a con- 
solidation of the Detroit and Howell, the Howell and Lansing, and 
the Ionia and Lansing roads. The latter road was the first one 
built, the Hon. James F. Joy, of the Central, furnishing the capi- 
tal. He afterwards took up the Detroit and Howell project Avith 
a view of making a connection from Detroit to Lake Michigan. 
The road has been completed as far as Howard City, where it 
connects with the Grand Rapids and Indiana road. This road now 
forms one of the great arteries for the commerce of the State. 

The Detroit and Bay City is another of the roads aided by the 
Michigan Central, and has lately been completed. It is over one 
hundred miles in length, and passes through a rich agricultural 
region, forming practically an air line from Detroit to Bay City. 

As before remarked, the Michigan Southern, now known as the 
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern, has also done much in the way 
of aiding roads which are tributary to the main line. The first in 
order is the road now known as the Lansing Division of the Lake 
Shore and Michigan Southern, but formerly known as the Northern 
Central Michigan. This division is fifty-nine miles long, extend- 
ing at present from Jonesville to Lansing. It will eventually be 
extended to St. Johns, and thence northward. 

The Kalamazoo Division was originally started without any 
clearly defined idea as to what place would eventually constitute 
its northern terminus. It Avas commenced about seven years ago. 
A strap road was already in existence from White Pigeon to 
Three Rivers. A road was then built north as far as Schoolcraft, 

remained for about ten years. He then engaged in the manufacture of 
vinegar and the distilhatiou of alcohol on a small scale. He has con- 
tinued in the same business to the present time -with remarkable success. 
Although a young man, he has always possessed the confidence of the 
people. He is an active member of the board of trade, and one of its 
vice-presidents. 

In 1871, he was elected a member of the common council of Detroit, 
and lias proved to be one of its most active members. 

Mr. Woollcy was recently elected a member of the Detroit stock 
exchange. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 561 

and tlie two united in one interest. After this another corpora- 
tion was formed to build a road from Schoolcraft to Kalamazoo, 
and it was eventually extended to Grand Rapids, when it passed 
into the hands of the Michigan Southern. A branch of this road 




HON. A. N. HART. 

Alvtn N. Hart was born in Cornwall, Litchfield county, Connecticut, 
on the nth of February, 1804. 

He resided with his parents and labored on the farm until he was 
fifteen years of age. He received his education partially at the academy 
in Sharon, Connecticut, and partially at the academy and college in 
Amherst, Massachusetts, finishing it in the latter institution. 

Mr. Hart married Miss Charlotte F. Ball, daughter of Dr. Benjamin 
Ball, of Wendell, Franklin county, Massachusetts, July 8, 1828. 

At the time of his marriage he resided in Utica, New York, where he 
remained for three years, at the end of which time he removed to the 
36 



562 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

was also built from Allegan to Holland. This was again 
extended north to Muskegon, and is known as the Michigan Lake 
Shore Road. It is now under the control of the Continental 
Improvement Company, which has also built a road from Alle- 
gan to Martin's Corners, on the Grand Rapids and Indiana line. 

The Detroit, Monroe and Toledo Division was built by subscrip- 
tions at Detroit and other points along the line. It is of consider- 
able importance to the former city, as it affords a channel of com- 
munication to the southern cities. 

The Jackson Division was constructed about thirteen years ago, 
under a special charter. It affords a direct communication from 
Jackson to Toledo, and has the effect of diverting a part of the 
Michigan Central traffic to the latter city. 

The Adrian and Monroe Division was originally a part of the 
main line, the latter place being the eastern terminus of the road, 
as originally chartered. The line from Adrian to Toledo, as we 
have before seen, was acquired by a perpetual lease from the old 
Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad Company. 

This concludes the lines owned or controlled by the two great 
corporations. Of the following roads many are important, and 
all, as far as completed, are well constructed and equipped. 

The Grand Rapids and Indiana road is of great importance, 
traversing, as it does, a region possessing unbounded natural 

Territory of Michigan. It was a long, tedious journey in those days, and 
Mr. Hart tiad to cut his way, for fourteen miles, through the forests, 
where there was no road yet built before he reached his destination. 

He commenced his pioneer life where the city of Lapeer now stands, 
being the first inhabitant of that settlement, and camping under a majes- 
tic elm, which is still standing a venerable landmark, protected from the 
lightning, which has struck it several times, by a rod placed on it by his 
son, R. G. Hart, of Lapeer. 

Having built the first log cabin in that vicinity, he moved into it with 
his family, consisting of his wife and one child, on the 11th of Novem- 
ber, 1831. 

In the spring of 1832, Mr. Hart was commissioned a justice of the 
peace for Oakland county, to which was attached, for judicial purposes, 
all the country north of that county. 

In the winter of 1835, Mr. Hart waslappointed sheriff of Lapeer county. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 563 

resources. Its ultimate termini are the Straits of Mackinaw on 
the north, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the south. The track 
is already laid from Grand Rapids north to Petoskey, sixty miles 
from Mackinaw, and the cars are running to Traverse City. This 
road has been greatly assisted by land grants, amounting in the 
aggregate to 1,160,382 acres. 

The Flint and Pare Marquette road is another very important 
road, traversing a region rich in agricultural resources, lumber 
and salt. The first division was built, from Flint to East Sagi- 
naw, about seven years ago. In 1866, the second division was 
built, extending from East Saginaw to six miles beyond INIidland. 
In 1868, a lease was effected of the Flint and Holly road, which 
had been in operation about four years ; also, of the Saginaw and 
Bay City road. The work on the main line has since steadily 
progressed, and, at the present writing, is completed as far as 
Reed City, 141 miles from Holly. A contract has been coHcluded 
for the unfinished portion, Ludingtou, on Lake Michigan, being 
its western terminus. A branch has also been built from Flint to 
Otter Lake, fifteen miles in length. Another branch has been 
projected from East Saginaw to the St. Clair river, terminating 
either at Port Huron, or St. Clair. 

The Holly, Wayne and Monroe road, which has recently been 
built, is now consolidated with the Flint and Pere Marquette. 

and at the election in the fall of 1835, in which the constitution of the 
new State was submitted and adopted, he was elected a representative to 
the State legislature. In 1842 he was elected supervisor of Lapeer town- 
ship, and held the office for the succeeding seven years. In 1843, Mr. 
Hart was elected State senator from the Sixth Senatorial District, which 
then comprised the counties of Lapeer, Oakland, Genesee, Shiawassee, 
Tuscola, Saginaw and the Upper Peninsula. In 1846, he was elected the 
first judge of the Lapeer county court, for a term of four years, and in 
1847, he was again elected to the State senate to fill the vacancy occa- 
sioned by the death of Senator Witherbee, and reelected in 1848 for the 
regular term. In 1856, he was almost unanimously again elected a justice 
of the peace. 

In 1860, he removed to the city of Lansing and was elected alderman 
of the first ward of that city in 1863, which office he still holds. In 1870, 
he vra.s elected a representative from Ingham county to the State legisla- 



564 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

This road is 63 miles long, aud gives the Saginaw Valley a direct 
connection with Toledo. 

The Chicago and Lake Huron road is the result of a consoli- 
dation of the Port Huron and Lake Michigan and the Peninsular 
roads. This is destined to be one of the most important lines 
in the State. The Peninsular has a Chicago connection on the 
west, and from the Indiana State line, running northeast, it passes 
through a very rich agricultural region. It is finished as far as 
Lansing, where it will eventually be connected with the Port 
Huron and Lake Michigan, the two roads, as before remarked, 
having consolidated their'.interests under the name of the Chicago 
and Lake Huron Railroad. The Port Huron and Lake Michi- 
gan road was finished from Port Huron west as far as Flint pre- 
vious to the consolidation. It was projected as long ago as 1836, 
and constituted one of the three great through lines then laid out 
by the State. The financial embarrassments of 1837, however, 
stopped the work after a few miles had been graded. In 1841, 
another company was formed, but nothing was done further than 
to locate the line and obtain the right of way. Again, in 1856, 
another company, called the Port Huron aud Milwaukee Railroad 
Company, was formed, a line was laid out, and some work done. 
But financial embarrassments again, put a stop to work, the prop- 
erty was sold under an execution, and the company dissolved. 

ture and materially aided in securing the magnificent appropriation 
wliicli was made for the erection of the new State Capitol now iu process 
of construction. 

Mr. Hart was one of the projectors of that portion of the Amboy, 
Lansing and Traverse Bay Railroad, running from Lansing to Owosso, 
and is a director in the Detroit and Bay City Railroad. 

Mr. Hart has ever been a consistent member of the Presbyterian 
denomination, being one of the founders of the flourishing church of that 
sect ia Lapeer, and also of the one in North Lansing. He is eminently a 
social man, and one that has always given freely for the advancement of 
Christianity and social improvement, and, wherever he is known, is 
universally loved and respected. 

His business has been mostly mercantile and real estate, and he has 
ever showed himself a good financier, both in public and private enter- 
prises. 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 



565 



In 1865, the franchises and property of the road passed into the 
hands of the Port Huron and Lake Michigan Railroad Company. 
Of this company the Hon. William L. Bancroft was the leading 
spirit ; and it is due to his energy and ability that it was com- 




DR. L. YOUNGHUSBAND. 

Lancelot Younghusbajs^d, M. D., LL. D., of Detroit, was born in 
Richmond, in the North of England, January 11, 1838. 

His father, John Youngliusband, brought his family to this country 
in 1841. He is yet living in St. Clair county of this State. At an early 
age, Lancelot was sent to Victoria College, Cobourg, and was a student 
under the celebrated Rev. Dr. Ormiston, now of New York. 

He graduated in arts at Acadia College, Dominion of Canada. For 
several years he was engaged as principal in high schools. While thus 
employed, he prepared quite a number of young men for college, who 



566 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

pleted as far as Flint, the present terminus. It runs through a 
fine agricultural country, and furnishes an outlet for an immense 
amount of oak and pine timber, staves, etc. Now that it has 
been consolidated with the Peninsular, it will join that road at 
Lansing, thus forming one of the great thoroughfares between 
Chicago and the seaboard. It connects at Port Huron with the 
Grand Trunk and Great AVestern Railways, of Canada. At the 
present writing Mr. Bancroft is in Europe, negotiating the bonds 
of the new company, the proceeds of which will enable the com- 
pany to complete the link between Flint and Lansing, and push 
the western division of the road forward to Chicago. The line 
of this road crosses the track of nearly twenty different railroads 
between Port Huron and Chicago. 

The Ohio and Michigan is the corporate name of the road 
which is best known as the Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Mich- 
igan road. It is being constructed by the Continental Improve- 
ment Company, a corporation nearly identical in interest with the 
Pennsylvania Central Railroad Company. The line extends from 
Mansfield, Ohio, to Allegan, Michigan, where it joins the road 
from that place to Muskegon, which, as we have before seen, is 
controlled by the same company. 

The Michigan Division of the Grand Trunk extends from Port 

completed their course at Antioch College, Ohio, at the time when that 
institution was under the charge of the distinguished Horace Mann; and 
so highly pleased was he with the proficiency exhibited by Professor 
Younghusband's pupils, that he inquired out their preceptor and con- 
ferred upon him the honorary degree of master of arts. At the age of 
twenty-four, he began the study of medicine in the office of two eminent 
physicians, at Port Hope, Ontario. 

Some years afterwards, he adopted the homoeopathic system of medi- 
cine, and received the degree of M. D. from the oldest homceopathic 
medical college in America, at Philadelphia, Pa. 

For many years he was engaged in a large and successful practice at 
Mt. Clemens, Mich. In the year 1868, his alma mater conferred its 
highest honors upon him — the degree of doctor of laws. In the fall of 
1871, he was elected president and professor of theory and practice in 
the Detroit UonKEopathic College, an institution, the success of which 
is already assured. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 567 

Huron to Detroit, 59 miles, and was built in 1859, by the Grand 
Trunk Railway of Canada. The road is a great benefit to ship- 
pers, affording a competing line from Detroit to the seaboard. It 
extends to Portland, Maine, 861 miles from Detroit. 

The Saginaw Valley and St. Louis road extends from East 
Saginaw to St. Louis, 34 miles. 

The Grand Rapids and Xewaygo road, 36 miles long, is com- 
pleted between the points named. It is proposed to extend the 
line northward to Fremont, the junction of the Muskegon and 
Big Rapids, and the Detroit, Lansing and Lake Michigan roads. 

The Marshall and Coldwater road has been graded from Elm 
Hall, Gratiot county, to Muir, on the Detroit and Milwaukee 
road ; also twenty miles in Eaton county, and work is being done 
in Ionia county. No track has yet been laid. 

The Canada Southern road has recently been completed in 
Canada. The main line reaches Michigan at Trenton. There is 
also a branch running from St. Thomas, Ontario, to St. Clair, 
Michigan. At Trenton the main line will have three branches : 
one to Chicago, passing through Flat Rock, Blissfield and Morenci. 
This branch is now completed as far as Fayette. Another branch, 
now completed, extends to Toledo. The other extends to Detroit, 
and has recently been opened for traffic. 

For moral, conservative and generally wholesome influence over stu- 
dents, no educational institution in the land has in its president one who 
excels him. 

On removing to Detroit, he formed a partnership with Dr. E. R. Ellis, 
a prominent physician of that city, and professor of surgery in the col- 
lege. Here Dr. Younghusband and his partner have built up an exten- 
sive practice. Scarcely a day passes that patients from distant parts of 
this State, and even Canada, do not call upon them. 

Besides general practice, they give special attention to surgery, and the 
treatment of chronic and difficult cases of disease, particularly of the 
lungs and heart. 

In the management of and as a teacher in the college, Professor Young- 
husband has more than fulfilled the expectations of his friends, and his 
conceded abilities, both natural and acquired, well entitle him to the 
position which he has gained as one of the foremost physicians of this 
State, if not of the West. 



568 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

At St. Clair, the Canada Southern connects with the Michigan, 
Midland and Canada road, which extends from St. Clair to Ridge- 
way, on the Grand Trunk road, a distance of 15 miles. The 
Michigan Air Line extends from the latter place to Romeo. 
The franchises of the Michigan Air Line road have been disposed 
of to parties in Pontiac, who propose to extend it as far as the lat- 
ter place. 

A road has been projected from Rockford to Greenville by the 
Continental Improvement Company. Some grading has already 
been done. 

The Paw Paw and Lawton road extends from Paw Paw, Van 
Buren county, to Lawton, on the Michigan Central, a distance of 
four miles. 

The Toledo, Ann Arbor and Northern road has been graded 
between Toledo and Ann Arbor. 

The Owosso and Northern road has for its proposed northern 
terminus, Frankfort, on Lake Michigan. Forty miles of grading 
have already been done. 

An air line from Detroit to Adrian is in contemplation, and 
the grading done between the latter place and Tecumseh. 

Several other meritorious projects are agitating the Lower Pen- 
insula, among which may be mentioned a road from Wenona to 
Big Rapids ; one from Elkhart, Indiana, to Benton Harbor, 
Michigan ; one from Lapeer to Port Austin ; one from Utica to 
Almont ; one from the main line of the Jackson, Lansing and 
Saginaw road to Alpena ; and one from East Saginaw to Port 
Huron or St. Clair. The grading on the latter road has been 
done from East Saginaw to Vassar. 

In the Upper Peninsula, the Marquette, Houghton and Onto- 
nagon road stands first in interest and importance. This com- 
pany was formed by the consolidation of the Marquette and 
Ontonagon aud the Houghton and Ontonagon railroads. The 
road is in operation from Marquette to L'Anse, and passes 
through the richest mineral region on earth. It has magnificent 
harbor facilities at each terminus, and in proportion to the invest- 
ment it is doing a larger business than any other railroad in the 
world. At least a million and a half tons of iron alone passed 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



569 



over this road during the past year. The road will be eventually 
extended westward as far as the Montreal river, where it is 
expected to connect with the Northern Pacific, thus forming an 
important link between Duluth and the Lower Peninsula, 




HON. E. S. EGGLESTON. 

Ebenezer S. Eggleston was bora in the village of Batavia, Genesee 
county, New York, May 13, 1825. 

He emigrated to Micliigan in 1837, settling in the town of Litchfield, 
Hillsdale county. 

Mr. Eggleston received a thorough common school education, and 
afterwards studied law with Lieutenant-Governor Gordon. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1852. 

In 1851, he removed to Grand Rapids, where, after being admitted, he 
commenced the practice of his profession, and soon won a high reputa- 
tion for his legal ability. He still continues the practice of the law at 



570 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

The gap between Escanaba and the Wisconsin State line, on 
the Chicago and Northwestei'n road, has recently been built, 
thus forming a direct connection between Marquette and Chicago. 

The Marquette, Mackinaw and Sault Ste. Marie road has 
recently been chartered. This road is to extend from Marquette 
to Sault Ste. Marie, with a branch to Mackinaw. The branch 
will give a direct railroad connection between the two peninsulas, 
which will be of the utmost importance to the people of both, 
and bring the winter trade from the Upper Peninsula through 
Mackinaw to the Lower Peninsula, and shorten the distance to be 
traveled from Detroit to Marquette 340 miles. 

The aggregate length of the railroads of Michigan, as stated by 
Governor Bagley in his message to the Legislature in January, 
1873, is about 3,200 miles. 

The question of bridging the river at Detroit is being vigorously 
discussed at the present writing, and it is probable that at no 
distant day this great desideratum of western shippers, agricultur- 
ists and railroad men will be accomplished. The scheme is, how- 
ever, violently opposed by vessel owners and others, interested in 
the commerce of the lakes. A board of engineers has been 
appointed to report as to its propriety and feasibility. 

No better idea of the immense interests at stake, of the com- 
merce of the lakes and of the business of Michigan railroads, can 
be obtained than by a mere statement of the leading argument 
used on each side of this question. The vessel owners show that 
at least $50,000,000 are invested in vessels which pass through the 
Detroit river; and that the passage of these vessels average one 
every six minutes during navigation. On the other hand, those in 

that city, and ranks among the leading lawyers of the western portion 
of the State. 

He was appointed Consul to Cadiz, Spain, by President Lincoln, in 
1861, and served in that capacity for four years. 

Mr. Eggleston was chosen representative to the State legislature from 
the first district of Grand Rapids, in the fall of 1873, and served in the 
house during the session of 1872-73. He was an active member of the 
judiciary committee and chairman of the committee on private corpora- 
tions of that body. 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 571 

favor of a bridge show that at least $150,000,000 of railway 
property are interested in crossing the Detroit river, to say noth- 
ing of the immense mercantile and agricultural interests of the 
State, and, indeed, of the whole northwest, that are interested in 
securing quick and cheap transportation to and from the sea- 
board. Vessel owners assert that their interests would be 
materially affected, and navigation obstructed during the summer 
months, by a bridge across the river. Railroad men, merchants 
and agriculturists assert that the blockade of freight occasioned 
by ice during the winter months, occasions the loss of many mil- 
lions of dollars annually. 

How the question will be settled time only can determine. It 
is mentioned here merely to give a faint idea of the immense 
interests involved — the untold wealth and possibilities of the 
commerce which annually passes through and along the shores of 
the State of Michigan. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



Mineral and Forest "Wealth op Michigan — Iron — Copper — Salt — 
Gypsum — Coal — Other Minerals — Lumber. 

IRON. 

The existence of iron in the Upper Peninsula has long been 
known. The Indians, at an early day, gave information to the 
white traders which led to investigations ; but it was not until a 
comparatively recent period that operations on an extended scale 
commenced. The first company organized for the purpose was 
called the Jackson Iron Company. This company was organized 
in 1845. It is still in existence, and its mine has yielded the 
largest amount of iron of any in the district, save one — the Lake 
Superior mine only producing a larger amount. 

Upon the organization of the Jackson Iron Company, one of 
the corporators visited the Lake Superior country, and, guided by 
the Indians, discovered and located what are now known as the 
Jackson and Cleveland mines. On his return home he brought a 
specimen of the ore, a portion of which he sent to Pittsburg, and 
another portion to Coldwater, in this State, for the purpose of 
having its quality tested. At the former place it was pronounced 
utterly worthless, but at the latter a more favorable report was 
made. In 1846 the first opening was made in the Jackson mine. 
The year following a forge was put in operation, in which the first 
ore taken out of the Jackson mine was manufiictured into blooms, 
Hon. E. B. Ward purchased the first blooms manufactured by 
this company, and used the iron in constructing the walking-beam 
of the steamer Ocean. Other forges followed soon after, and 
in 1853 three or four tons of iron were shipped to the World's 
Fair, at New York. Owing to the difficulties of shipping, there 
was little done until 1856, when regular shipments commenced. 

The Cleveland mine was opened about the same time. The 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



573 



Marquette mine was next opened, and made its first shipment in 
1868. Other mines were opened from time to time, as the atten- 
tion of capitalists were attracted to the region. 

Notwithstanding the unfavorable report made by the Pitts- 




PROF. DAVID PARSONS. 

David Parsons was born in the town of New Haven, Oswego county, 
New York, in the year 1820. 

When not quite fifteen years of age, he, without a cent in his pocket 
and but poorly clad, started for the Territory of Michigan, where three 
of his brothers had preceded him. After traveling on foot and by water 
several hundred miles, he found two of his brothers at Ann Arbor. 
They being unable to assist him, he started for Spring Arbor, where his 
other brother was located. He found him in no better circumstances 



574 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

burg parties who tested the ore first shipped to them, Lake 
Superior iron is now acknowledged to be the best in the world. 
Its strength per square inch, in pounds, has been found to be no 
less than 89,582. The nearest approach to this is in the best 
Russia iron, the strength of which is 7G,069 pounds ; whilst the 
best Swedish iron shows a strength of only 58,184. The common 
English and American iron bears a test of about 30,000 pounds. 

Lake Superior iron has been practically tested in every possible 
use to which iron can be put, and the universal testimony is that 
it is the best in existence, both as regards strength and ease of 
manipulation. 

The mines thus far developed are mainly in the county of 
Marquette. They are generally found in hills which are from 
400 to 600 feet in height. These hills are in a range of about 
six miles wide, and one hundred miles in length. They extend 
from Lake Fairbanks to Keweenaw Bay. In Menominee county 
there is another range of hills, equally rich in this ore, but they 
are at present undeveloped. This range crops out at Bayfield, 
and at several other points large deposits of magnetic ores are 
found, which prove to be almost pure native iron. Five different 
varieties of ores have been found. The most valuable is the 

than the others, and after traveling about the country some thirty miles, 
he tinally succeeded in getting employment on a farm. 

Returning to Ann Arbor in the winter, he taught the school in Lower 
Ann Arbor that season. 

After his school closed, he again engaged in farming, about two miles 
south of where the city of Marshall now stands, and while thus employed, 
passed through many exciting and dangerous scenes with wolves and 
other wild animals, and endured all the severe hardships consequent 
upon a pioneer's life in a wild country. 

Disliking farming, and having early resolved to obtain an education 
and become a professional teacher, Mr. Parsons devoted all his spare 
moments with his books, even carrying them to the field with him that 
he might utilize every possible minute in which he was not otherwise 
employed, in acquiring information from them. 

By his own unwearied exertions at teaching school winters and work- 
ing on a farm summers, and through the aid of his brother John, he 
succeeded in receiving an academic education and preparing himself for 
his profession. At the age of twenty, he was called to take charge of 



HISTOKY O^ MICHIGAN. 575 

specular hematite, which yields about 60 to 75 per cent of metal- 
lic iron. The second in importance is the soft hematite, which 
yields about 50 per cent in the furnace, and has the advantage of 
being more easily reduced than any other ore of the district. 
The magnetic ore is found west of the other ores of the district. 
The Michigan, Washington, Edwards and Champion mines pro- 
duce this ore almost exclusively. The flag ore is slaty or shistose 
silicious hematite, containing a less per centage of metallic iron 
than the ores above named, and is rather more difficult to reduce. 
It is often magnetic and sometimes banded with dull red or white 
quartz. The iron is cold short, which is said to be one of the 
best qualities of this ore. The other ores of the district are red 
short. This ore is believed to be the most abundant in the dis- 
trict. At several points in the district, and accompanying the 
flag ore, is found a silicious iron ore, which contains a variable 
amount of oxide of manganese. This is of great value as a 
mixture. 

There are forty mines now in the district, which have produced 
since their . opening, up to and including the year 1872, an aver- 
age of over 139,184 tons. The aggregate yield, in tons, from 
1856 to 1872 inclusive, is 5,567,373. The value of this yield has 

one of the public schools at Salina, New York. This school was one of 
the most unruly in existence, and when Mr. Parsons informed the trus- 
tees that he was going to teach it without the use of a rod, they were 
loth to give him the situation, but finally concluded to allow him a 
week's trial. At the expiration of that time, he had the pupils entirely 
under his control, and so complete was his success that he remained in 
charge of the school for three years. 

Mr. Parsons was one of the early advocates of moral suasion in the 
public schools, his motto being "a school well taught is a school well 
governed." 

In 1844, the first State teachers' convention held in the State was called 
to meet in Syracuse, New York, and a State association organized. At 
that convention, Mr. Parsons had gained such a prominence among the 
teachers of the State as to be elected the secretary. 

Shortly afterwards, he made a tour of New York State, conducting 
teachers' institutes, and doing much toward driving corporal punishment 
from the public schools. 

When but twenty-one years of age, Mr. Parsons published a work on 



576 GENERAL HISTORY. OF THE STATES. 

been $44,373,833. There are fifteen furnaces in the district, 
which have produced since their establishment, an average of 
over 23,858 tons. Their aggregate production since 1858, when 
the first was started, up to and including 1872, is 357,880 tons. 

Michigan ranks as the second State in the union in the produc- 
tion of iron, Pennsylvania only leading her. The magnitude of 
her iron interest is seen in the fact that in 1872 she furnished 
about one-thirteenth of the entire product of the world. But, 
great as it is, it is yet in its infancy. Mountains of solid ore, 
covering many square miles, exist within her limits ; and, thous- 
ands of years hence, when this continent shall contain a popula- 
tion greater than now exists in the world, the iron mines of 
Michigan will still continue to pour out their rich treasures in 
inexhaustible abundance. 

COPPER. 

The principal copper mines in Michigan, are in the counties of 
Keweenaw, Houghton and Ontonagon. The existence of copper 
in the Upper Peninsula was known to the Indians long before the 
white man had penetrated the dejDths of our forests ; and the 
early white settlers were informed of its existence many years 

" Analysis of Words," whicli he had written when he was but eighteen. 
Shortly afterwards, he published a chart, entitled "Parsons' Philosophi- 
cal and Practical Orthography." This chart, after passing through 
several editions, was placed upon a more practical basis by being accom- 
panied by a book on "Orthography, the Elements of Elocution and 
Analysis, and the introduction of the ' Union System ' of Teaching, 
Reading," etc., by the same author. Mr. Parsons has published several 
other educational works. 

In 1855, in connection with Professor Alfred Holbrook, he started the 
project which has resulted in the present magnificent and efficient 
national normal school, at Lebanon, Ohio, with Professor Holbrook at 
its head. 

Mr. Parsons is widely known as an organizer. He organized the 
"Wellsville union school, the Jefferson academy, the Belle Fontaine union 
schools, and Tafton collegiate seminary. 

For a number of years past, Mr. Parsons has been engaged in the life 
insurance business, and is acknowledged to be one of the most success- 
ful men in that occupation in the State. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



577 



ago. But no active measures were taken to ascertain the extent 
of the deposits, or to reap any benefit from their rich stores, until 
the year 1845. At that time the fever of copper speculation 
broke out, and had a most disastrous run for several years. 




GEN. A. T. M'REYNOLDS. 

Andrew T. McReynolds was born in Dungannon, Tyrone county, 
Ireland, on Christmas day, 1808. 

He emigrated to America in August, 1830, in his twenty-second year, 
and was a resident of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for some time before 
coming to Michigan. 

While there, he was one of the original members and first ensign of 
the Duquesne Grays of that city, organized in 1831, and which was the 
first independent volunteer company formed west of the AUeghanies. 
37 



578 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Numerous companies were organized, and speculations in cop- 
per stocks were indulged in to an enormous extent. The Cliff 
mine was the first one developed. Three years Avere spent in 
developing it, with very discouraging results ; but at the end of 
that time, and just at the moment of success, the mine changed 
hands. In the hands of the new owners it proved to be exceed- 
ingly rich in both copper and silver. This mine is situated in 
Keweenaw county, just back of Eagle Harbor. In 1848 the 
Minnesota mine was discovered. Several years were spent in this 
mine with very little show of success. In 1855 the Pcwabic mine 
was opened. The first four years the sum of $230,813 was 
expended, and $153,168 worth of copper was produced. Other 
mines were worked with similar results, some even more disas- 
trously. Several causes conspired to produce these results. The 
St. Mary's canal was not yet built, and all supplies had to be 
packed around the falls. They were then carried in boats along 
the shores for hundreds of miles. When the mining region was 
reached everything had to be packed on the backs of beasts or of 
men to the mines. Again, the want of practical experience in 
those who worked the mines led to much loss, great embarrass- 

While in Pittsburg, he volunteered to aid under General Scott, in put- 
ting down nullification in South Carolina. 

Coming to Detroit in 1833, he has been a resident of Michigan for 
forty years. 

In 1834, he was appointed major on the staff of Major-General Williams, 
who was in command of all the militia in the Territory of Michigan. 

In the winter of 1834-35, he was one of four that organized the Brady 
Guards of Detroit, the other three being Major Isaac Rowland, Marshal 
Bacon and John Chester. The Brady Guards was the first independent 
military organization west of Lake Erie subsequent to the war of 1812. 

He commenced the practice of the law in Detroit in 1840, and soon 
rose to a prominence in the profession. 

He organized the Montgomery Guards of Detroit, and was their first 
captain; and he also served eleven years as lieutenant-colonel and colonel 
of the first regiment of Michigan militia. 

Having, in 1847, received a captain's commission in the dragoon service 
of the United States army, he resigned the seat he was then occupying in 
the Michigan State Senate, and served under General Scott during the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 579 

ments, and final abandonment of enterprises that with practical 
skill and good judgment might have been successfully carried out. 
The want of scientific exploration and examination of these 
regions was also a serious drawback. With the completion of the 
canal all this was changed, and copper mining received a new 
impetus. Goods could be transported more cheaply, and the pro- 
duct of the mines could be readily transported to market. Scien- 
tific explorations followed, and capital and skilled labor were 
brought into requisition. The finances were managed with more 
care, and the mines were worked with greater judgment. The 
result has been a rich reward for the enterprise and capital 
invested, and the production of copper has come to be one of the 
great industries of the Northwest. 

The ore mined is of the richest quality, yielding about 80 per 
cent of ingot copper. Many times vast masses of pure native 
copper, weighing many tons, have been taken out. Smelting 
works have been established at Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburg and 
Portage Lake. Twenty-five mines are now in successful opera- 
tion, giving employment to over seven thousand men. The num- 
ber of tons produced from 1845 to 1872, inclusive, is 175,756. 

war with Mexico. He was attached to the headquarters; his troops, in 
coniunction with those under General Philip Kearney, acting as the body 
guard of the commanding general during the campaign that terminated 
in planting the American banner in triumph on the halls of the Monte- 
zumas. 

The following extract, which gives a vivid description of General 
McReynolds' bravery, appears in the "Life of General Philip Kearney," 
which was written by J. Watts De Peyster: 

" The charge of dragoons refered to was made by two troops — one led 
by Captain Kearney, the other by Captain McReynolds. The name of 
Kearney sounds rather Irish, but of the birth or descent of that gallant 
soldier we are unable to speak. We are happy, however, to be able to 
claim Captain McReynolds as Irish born, and no one will believe him to 
be a whit the less a true American on that account. Captain McReynolds 
is a native of Dungannon, in the county of Tyrone. The Detroit Free 
Press, in quoting from the New Orleans Picayune the passage which we 
subjoin, speaks thus: ' It was in this charge that Captain McReynolds, of 
this city, received his serious wound, his troop — all Michigan boys — 



580 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

The value of the copper produced in that time is estimated at 
$76,560,720. 

The richness of the copper mines of the Upper Peninsula is 
not surpassed in the world. It is already one of most important 
industries in the Northwest, and further scientific research will 
undoubtedly lead to still more important results, and materially 
increase the wealth and commerce of the State. 

SALT. 

The first attempt to develop the saline resources of the State 
was made by the late Dr. Douglas Houghton, then State Geologist, 
under the authority of the Legislature. An appropriation of 
$3,000 was made for this purpose, and operations were commenced 
in June, 1838. A spot was selected on the Tittabawassee river, 
ten miles above the site of the present village of Midland. Two 
thousand dollars of this appropriation were expended before the 
depth of 100 feet was reached, and those engaged in the prosecu- 
tion of the work began to look upon the enterprise as hopeless. 
"Work was continued, however, until a depth of 140 feet was 
reached, when it was abandoned. Dr. Houghton never lost faith 
in the ultimate success of the enterprise, having the fullest coufi- 

together with Kearney's, participating. It was undoubtedly one of the 
boldest and most desperate charges on record.' The commanding gen- 
eral of the division thus speaks of the charge and Captain McKeynolds 
and his bold dragoons: ' Capain McReynolds' Third Dragoons nobly sus- 
tained the daring movements of their squadron commander.' Both of 
these fine companies sustained severe losses in their rank and file. We 
are informed that the enemy numbered, by their own report, two thou- 
sand infantry and one thousand cavalry, while our dragoons did not 
exceed one hundred. This small force drove the Mexicans upwards of 
two miles, and ceased not until they were within the battery that covered 
the gate of the city. In this charge, the dragoons cut down more than 
their entire number of the enemy. When we consider the extraordinary 
disparity in point of numbers, and the raking position of the enemy's 
battery, into the very mouth of which our brave dragoons fearlessly 
threw themselves, we think we may safely say it has no parallel in 
modern warfare." — Dublin Freeman's Journal. 

When the war with Mexico closed, he returned to Detroit and resumed 
the practice of his profession. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 581 

dence in the existence of rich and extensive saline deposits under- 
lying a large area of the surface of Michigan. After this failure 
the matter rested for a time. Occasionally wells were sunk in 
various parts of the State, but with poor success, until 1860, when 
the first paying well was sunk in the Saginaw valley. Before the 
close of that year 4,000 barrels were shipped. Since that time 
numerous paying wells have been sunk, the manufacturing pro- 
cess has been improved so as to materially reduce the cost of 
production, and to-day salt is one of the staple productions of the 
State. The principal salt region, as far as developed, is in the 
Saginaw valley. The wells are usually sunk in the vicinity of 
the saw mills, in order to be able to utilize the exhaust steam or 
the refuse of the mills, in the manufacture of the salt. This 
reduces the expense of manufacture to a minimum, and produces 
large returns in proportion to the capital invested and the labor 
involved. 

A little over twelve years have elapsed since the first shipments 
were made from this State ; but in that time over six millions of 
barrels have been manufactured. 

At the close of the year 1872 there were sixty salt manufactur- 

Upon the breaking out of the rebellion, he tendered his services to the 
government, and having received the appointment of colonel from Presi- 
dent Lincoln, he organized and brought into the field the "Lincoln 
Cavalry," which was the first regiment of cavalry organized for the 
Union army. 

General McReynolds commanded his regiment during the first year of 
the war. Subsequently, he was in command of a brigade for nearly two 
years and of a division for some six months, when, his term of service 
having expired, he received an honorable discharge, returned to his 
home at Grand Rapids, and again resumed the practice of his profession. 

General McReynolds has held many important civil positions, and has 
lived a very eventful life. Shortly after coming to Detroit he became 
connected with the Michigan Bank, and remained in it four years. 

He was an alderman of the city of Detroit in 1838-39, and in the latter 
year was elected a representative to the State legislature, serving in that 
body during the session of 1839-40. He was a delegate from Michigan 
to the Harrisburg convention of December, 1839, which nominated Gen- 
eral Harrison as the Whig candidate for the Presidency. Under Presi- 



582 GtNEtlAL filSTORY OP THE STATES. 

ing firms in the State, with a capital of $3,500,000 invested. 
These firms give employment to about 1,000 men, in the manu- 
facture of salt and the business incident thereto. Their manufac- 
turing capacity is about 1,158,000 barrels per annum. 

The following shows the districts, and the character and 
capacity of the works, as arranged by the State salt inspector : 

District No. 1, East Saginaw, has 4 salt companies, with 10 
kettles, 1 steam and 2 pan blocks. Capacity 140,000 barrels. 

District No. 2, South Saginaw, 10 firms, with 10 kettles and 3 
steam blocks. Capacity 135,000 barrels. 

District No. 3, Saginaw City, 8 firms, with 5 kettles, 7 steam 
and 1 pan block. Capacity 150,000 barrels. 

District No. 4, Carrolton, 6 firms, with 12 kettles, 2 steam and 
1 pan block. Capacity 175,000 barrels. 

District No. 5, Zilwaukee, 6 firms, with 3 kettles, 4 steam and 
3 pan blocks, and 2,776 solar salt covers. Capacity 150,000 
barrels. 

District No. 6, Portsmouth, Bay City and Salzburg, 9 firms, 
with 6 kettles and 8 steam blocks. Capacity 175,000 barrels. 

District No. 7, Bay, Banks and Kawkawlin, 13 firms, with 4 
kettles, 7 steam and 5 pan blocks, and 521 solar salt covers. 
Capacity 175,000 barrels. 

dent Tyler, he was Indian agent for some three years. He was elected 
State senator from Detroit, in 1846, and served until he entered the army 
during the Mexican war. He was prosecuting attorney of Wayne county 
in 1851-52, and was a memher of the board of education of Detroit, and 
its first president under its charter. General McReynolds was United 
States district attorney for the western district of Michigan, at Grand 
Rapids, under President Johnson, and was the Democratic and Liberal 
Republican nominee for Congress in the fifth Michigan district in the 
fall of 1872, but was defeated by his Republican opponent, the late Hon. 
Wilder D. Foster. 

General McReynolds is held in high esteem by the citizens of Michi- 
gan, and in fact of the whole Union, for his gallant and long service in 
defense of the flag of his adopted country, and his name will long be 
honored and cherished by them, not only for his brave military deeds, 
but also for the prominent and noble acts of his civic life. 

He is at present residing in Grand Rapids, where he moved in 1859, 
and is actively engaged in the practice of his profession. 



HISTORY OF MlCHlGAlC. 



583 



District No. 8, Huron county, 3 firms, one at Port Austin, one 
at ^Caseville, and one at White Rock. They have 2 kettles, 1 
steam and 2 pan blocks, and 50 solar salt covers. Capacity 50,000 
barrels. 




D. M. FERRY. 

D. M. Ferry was born in Lowville, Lewis county, New York, in 1833. 
His father died wlien he was but three years of age, and shortly after his 
mother removed with her two children to Penfield, Monroe county, in 
the western part of the same State. At the age of sixteen, Master Ferry 
started in life on his own account, by engaging to work for a neighboring 
farmer during the summer of 1849, for ten dollars per month. He 
remained in the farmer's employment two summers, attending a country 
school in the neighborhood during the winter season. Being forcibly 
impressed with a desire to obtain a liberal education, such as could not 
be acquired at a country school, he secured a situation with a gentleman 



584 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

District No. 9, Mount Clemens, 1 firm, with 1 steam block. 
Capacity 8,000 barrels. 

At St. Clair a well was sunk several years since. Good brine 
was obtained, and a salt block erected, from which a prime quality 
of salt was manufactured ; but the manufacture was soon aban- 
doned, owing, it is said to the high price of fuel. 

The manufacture of salt has also commenced in East Tawas, 
and a new inspection district is about to be erected. 

The quality of Michigan salt is unsurpassed, and is rapidly 
taking the place of all others in the markets of the West. The 
following chemical analysis will show its character : Chloride of 
sodium, 97.288 ; chloride of calcium, 0.229 ; chloride of magne- 
sium, 0.340 ; sulphate of lime, 0.697 ; moisture, 1.300 ; insoluble 
matter, 0.046. Total, 100.000. 

The refuse from the manufactories is now being utilized. It 
produces aniline, one of the best known bases of color, and bromo- 
chloralum, an excellent disinfectant. 

of wealth, near Rochester, New York, in order to avail himself, during 
the winter months, of the benefits of more advanced city schools. After 
remaining in the last mentioned gentleman's employment for a consider- 
able time, and making substantial advancement in his studies, his 
employer, being favorably moved by his industry and apt perseverance, 
kindly assisted him in procuring a situation in a wholesale and retail 
book store in Detroit, where he arrived in November, 1853. 

As we have already seen, while only a boy jNlr. Ferry was thrown upon 
his own resources and left quite alone in his struggles with the world. 
But simultaneously with this early commencement to do for himself, he 
seems to have been endowed with energy and ability equal to the task. 

There are but few men in the whole Northwest who have in so short a 
time made such progress in business, and became so favorably and gener- 
ally known to the people of the central, southern and western States, as 
Mr. D. M. Ferry, senior member of the firm of Messrs. D. M. Ferry & Co. , 
of Detroit. He commenced in the seed business in Detroit in 1856, when 
only twenty-three years of age. This beginning was exceedingly small, 
but, through almost matchless energy and enterprise, in the short space 
of seventeen years, Mr. Ferry has established an immense and profitable 
business, and accumulated for himself an ample fortune. 

Such men are indeed a credit to the metropolis of Michigan, as they 
are rapidly placing her among the first commercial States in the Union. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



585 



GYPSUM. 
The discovery of gypsum in Michigan dates as far back as the 
time when General Cass was Governor of the Territory. Nothing 
was done in the way of developing the beds until 1840, when the 




HON. IRA MAYHEW. 

Ira Mayhew, late superintendent of public instruction of the State of 
Michigan, was born in Ellisburg, Jefferson county, New York, in 1814. 

He received a common school education, and entered the Union Aca- 
demy in Belleville at the age of fourteen. He commenced teaching school 
in 1832, and followed this profession with eminent success until 1836, 
when, finding his health considerably impaired, he made a voyage to the 
banks of Newfoundland. In 1837, he was appointed principal of the 
Adams Seminary, in which capacity he labored until the fall of 1841, 



586 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

first plaster mill was erected at Grand Rapids. Two years before 
this Dr. Douglass Houghton visited the Grand Rapids beds, and 
made a report which led to their development. The stratum of 
gypsum at this place is from eighteen to twenty feet in thickness, 
and covers an area of about 1,000 acres. The manufacture of 
plaster at Grand Rapids aggregates about 40,000 tons of land 
plaster, and about 60,000 barrels of stucco per annum. About 
$500,000 is invested in the business, giving employment to about 
three hundred men. 

It is an excellent fertilizer, and finds a ready market among the 
farmers of this State and of Indiana. 

Plaster is also found at Alabaster, Iosco county, and in the 
Upper Peninsula. The mines at Alabaster were only opened 
about six or seven years ago. They are located close to the water's 
edge, on an excellent harbor, and the facilities for mining and 
shipping are excellent. The plaster is taken from the mines to 
the dock over a tramway, where it is dumped from the cars into 
the vessel. 

A chemical analysis of the gypsum found in Michigan presents 
the following result : Sulphuric acid, 48 ; lime, 32 ; water, 20. 
Total, 100. 

This business is destined to assume great magnitude, as the 
country settles up and the agricultural resources are developed. 
Its value as a fertilizer is rapidly becoming known and appreci- 
ated, and the demand increases from year to year, 

when he was elected county superintendent of common schools in his 
native county. 

At the expiration of his first term as county superintendent, in 1843, 
Mr. Mayhew removed to Michigan, where liis most valuable labors for 
the promotion of educational interests have been performed. The people 
of the Peninsular State were neither slow to observe his qualifications, 
nor backward in securing the services of his talents. He was first 
appointed principal of the Monroe branch of the State University, and, 
in the winter of 1845, he was nominated by the Governor and elected by 
the legislature to the oflBce of superintendent of public instruction, a 
position to which he was reelected in 1847. The Middletown University, 
Connecticut, conferred upon him the degree of master of arts in 1848. 

In the early part of 184!), he delivered, by invitation, a series of lectures 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 587 



COAL. 



Geologists have long since demonstrated the fact that an 
immense coal basin underlies the whole central portion of the 
State. Prof. J. W. Foster estimates the coal field of Michigan to 
be about one hundred feet in thickness, and to cover an area of 
five thousand square miles. Mines have thus far been opened at 
Jackson, at Corunna, Shiawassee county, and at Williamston, in 
the county of Ingham. The first operations in this line com- 
menced in 1858, at Jackson, and this mine has been regularly 
worked since that time. The coal is bituminous, and is strongly 
impregnated with sulphur, which renders it unpopular for domestic 
use. In many branches of manufacture, however, it is well 
adapted and largely employed. The coal improves in quality as 
the shaft descends through the stratum. 

At Corunna, mining operations have^ been carried on for about 
ten years. The quality of the coal is similar to that at Jackson. 
A vein containing a very superior quality of coal has recently 
been opened, which bids fair to prove of great importance. A 
railroad track has been laid directly to the mine, thus affording 
the best facilities for shipment. 

The coal found at Williamston is much superior in quality to 
that of either of the above mines, and resembles, more nearly than 
any other in the State, the celebrated block coal of Indiana. Very 
little has heretofore been done at this mine, owing to a lack of 

on education in the State Capitol, after which he was requested by the 
legislature to edit and publish a volume containing the views set forth 
in his lectures, and at the end of his second term of office, he retired 
from public life a short time for the purpose of complying with that 
request. This volume was entitled " Means and Ends of Universal Edu- 
cation," and was received by the public and press, as well as by dis- 
tinguished men of literature, with much praise and merited acceptation. 
In 1851, he published his work on "Practical Book-keeping," which up 
to the present date has passed through more than ninety editions. 

In 1853, Mr. Mayhew was elected President of Albion Seminary and 
College. After occupying this position one year, he was recalled to the 
office of superintendent of public instruction, and, in 1856, he was 
elected for the fourth time to this office, by the largest majority given to 



588 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

railroad facilities. But this difficulty has recently been overcome, 
and mining is carried on vigorously. 

Coal mining in Michigan is yet in its infancy ; but there is 
enough within the limits of the State to supply the furnaces of the 
world for thousands of years to come. 

OTHER MINERALS. 

There are many other minerals in the State besides those enum- 
erated above, some of which are destined to be developed and add 
greatly to the wealth of Michigan. Silver and gold are known to 
exist in the Upper Peninsula. The former, in no inconsiderable 
quantities, has been found in the copper mines. Lead and plum- 
bago are also known to exist in that region. The Indians supplied 
themselves with bullets from mines at Lake Superior, but could 
never be induced to reveal the locality from which they obtained 
it. Mines have already been opened, but never worked to any 
great extent. It is safe to predict, however, that at no distant 
day profitable mines will be opened, and thus another branch of 
mining industry Avill be added to the other resources of the State. 

The business of manufacturing grindstones has assumed con- 
siderable magnitude of late, the Huron grit-stones being unri- 
valed in the market. 

Marble, of great variety and superior quality, is also found in 
the Marquette iron region. 

any candidate on tlie State ticket up to that time, whicli was an unmis- 
takable evidence of tlie popular appreciation of the valuable services he 
had rendered in this important part of the State government. He retired 
from public life for a time in 1850, having served the State in the same 
high office for eight years. 

The next year, Mr. Mayhew thoroughly revised and republished his 
work on "Practical Book-keeping.' 

The same year, he established the Albion Commercial College, which 
was afterwards removed to Detroit, and is noticed in another part of this 
work, in the chapter devoted to the educational interests of Michigan. 

In 1862, he was appointed to and accepted the office of collector of 
internal revenue for the third district of Michigan, which position he 
held until 1865, since when, his whole time has been occupied in con- 
du(!ting his Business College in Detroit. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



589 



Yellow and red ochre and manganese beds are found in the St. 
Mary's Peninsula, where coloring material can be mined in unlim- 
ited quantities. 

Building stone of a very superior quality is found in various 




JAMES NALL, JR. 

James Nall, Jr., was born in Huddersfield, England, in April, 1828, 
and came to America with liis parents when only four years old. 

His father, Rev. James Nail, a Congregational minister of consider- 
able reputation in Canada, being favorably impressed with the practical 
side of life, resolved to settle his sons on farms, and in furtherance of 
this purpose, purchased in the fall of 1844, a tract of land located in the 
heart of a forest about twelve miles northwest of Port Sarnia, Ontario. 

In the fall of that year the subject of this sketch, when only sixteen 
years of age, in company with his brother, set out from his home in 



590 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

localities, equal in beauty and durability to the free stone of New 
England. 

Material for quick] limes and hydraulic limes is also found in 
unlimited quantities. Clays of every variety for brick making 
are found in the greatest abundance. White and lemon colored 
bricks, so popular for building fronts, are made in many locali- 
ties. Vast quantities of peat are found in many places, which, in 
future years, will prove of immense value. 

LUMBER. 

It is safe to say that no region on this continent of the same 
area possesses so much of valuable timber as Michigan. Not less 
than 20,000,000 acres, or one-half the area of the State, was 
originally covered with pine. What are here mentioned as pine 
lands must not be understood as being covered exclusively with 
that timber. Along the margins of the streams the pine forests 
are very dense ; but away from the streams it is generally liber- 
ally interspersed with various hard woods. The superior quality 
of the pine thus intersjiersed with the hard timber amply compen- 
sates for the lack of quantity. 

Burford, Ontario, to clear up a farm in the midst of a dense forest. Tliey 
spent the winter at this work and in tlie following spring had eleven 
acres cleared, but the amount of labor it had taken to accomplish this 
task caused Mr. Nail to seek some other less laborious employment. 

Accordingly he visited Port Sarnia and secured a position in the general 
store of the Hon Malcolm Cameron, with whom he remained two years 
and a half, and until that gentleman had retired from business Upon 
closing out his business Mr. Cameron offered to procure Mr. Nail a situation 
either in Toronto or Montreal. He declined this offer, however, having 
already closely watched and admired the march of commercial prosperity 
in the United States, he procured a letter of recommendation from his 
former employer to the Hon. Zachariah Chandler, of Detroit, and visit- 
ing that city in 1848, was engaged by that gentleman, with whom he 
remained until 1853, when he went into the employ of Mr. William A. 
Raymond, a prominent dry goods merchant in Detroit at that time. After 
serving with this gentleman for two years lie succeeded to a one-third 
interest in the establishment, and at the expiration of the three succeed- 
ing years he became an equal partner with Mr. Raymond. About one 
year from this time the senior partner died, and the entire business 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



591 



The principal lumber region, thus far developed, is the valley 
of the Saginaw river, and along its tributary streams, extending 
to the upper Muskegon, and thence to Lake Michigan. The 
region around Thunder Bay also contains a large area of pine 




RESIDENCE OF JAME3 NALL, JR. 

passed into the hands of Mr. Nail, who is still conducting it, but on a 
much larger scale, and with the same characteristic success. 

In the early part of 1872 Mr. Nail began the erection of a residence on 
Jefferson avenue, opposite Christ's church, Detroit, of which the above 
engraving is a representation. It is now completed and is recognized as 
one of the handsomest, in point of exterior adornments, in the city. It 
is located on large and pleasant grounds which have an extended frontage 
on Jefferson avenue and Larned street. The interior of the residence has 
been arranged with great care, and the whole constitutes a very fashion- 
able and cornmodious dwelling. 



592 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

timber, and the Au Sable and the Manistee rivers penetrate an 
immense pine region. On all these streams lumbering operations 
are extensively carried on, but the principal sources of supply are 
at present the Saginaw valley on the east, and on the Muskegon 
river on the west. 

Before railroads penetrated the pine forests of the interior, lum- 
bering operations were confined almost exclusively to the immedi- 
ate vicinity of streams. The logs were cut in the winter, and 
hauled on the snow to the streams, and floated to the mills on the 
current formed by the spring freshets. "With the advent of rail- 
roads, immense tracts of valuable pine, heretofore inaccessible, 
have been brought into the market. Mills spring up along the 
tracks of the railroads as they are laid through the forests, flour- 
ishing villages appear as if by magic, the forests are cleared and 
brought under cultivation, thus giving employment to thousands 
of men, homes and productive farms to the hardy pioneers, and 
abundant and remunerative employment to the railroads in trans- 
porting lumber and supplies. The principal roads that have thus 
penetrated the pine forests of the interior are the Jackson, Lan- 
sing and Saginaw, the Flint and Pere Marquette, and Grand Rap- 
ids and Indiana Railroads. 

It is estimated that there are about 7,000,000 acres of pine 
lauds in the Lower Peninsula that are yet untouched. It is true 
that some of this is interspersed with hard wood timber ; but that 
is compensated for by the fact that the pine is of better quality 
and the lands better adapted to the purposes of agriculture than 
those covered exclusively with pine. In the Upper Peninsula it 
is estimated that there are at least 10,000,000 acres of pine as yet 
untouched, which will produce, probably, 7,000,000,000 feet of 
lumber. 

It may be well in this connection to correct a mistake that pre- 
vails to a great extent in reference to the adaptation of pine lands 
to the purposes of agriculture. No better farming lands exist 
than those which have produced a mixed growth of pine and 
hard wood timber ; and even the land that has been covered 
exclusively with pine is very rich and productive under proper 
care and management. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



593 



The quality of Michigan pine is unsurpassed for the purposes 
of lumber. It is principally white pine, of which there are sev- 
eral varieties. Norway pine grows abundantly in some localities, 
but the proportion is small compared with the more valuable 




JAMES W. FRISBIE. 

Jajies W. Frisbie was born in New York State, in 1828. In 1857 he 
visited Detroit, and immediately commenced the drj^ goods business, 
locating at No. 167 Jefferson avenue, one door from the corner of Wood- 
ward avenue. His business increased rapidly, and in a few years his 
establishment included No. 53 Woodward avenue, connecting in the rear 
with his original store on Jefferson avenue. Following these strides of 
success came a still further extension, which included the store No. 55 
on the former thoroughfare. 

It should be stated that at that date Detroit had little more than 
38 



594 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

white pines. On the best pine lands the quantity of hard wood 
often exceeds that of pine. In many parts of the State walnut 
and cherry grow in abundance, and are largely used by the furni- 
ture makers of the State and of the East. Oak grows abundantly 
in many localities, and the trade 'in that timber for ship-building 
purposes is of late years assuming magnificent proportions. Aside 
from that used in the ship-yards along our own shores, vast quan- 
tities are annually shipped to Montreal, Quebec, Buflalo and 
Cleveland. In the interior, where the heavy ship-timber cannot 
be transported to the streams, the oak is manufactured into staves, 
which are shipped mainly to Europe and the West Indies. 

It may be proper in this connection to correct an erroneous 
impression that has gone abroad, backed by apparently high 
authority, in reference to the variety of oak timber that is shipped 
from this State for purposes of ship-building. Reference is had 
to the popular belief that the variety known as " live oak " grows 
abundantly in the forests of Michigan. The fact is live oak does 
not grow in this State at all. That variety is only found in the 
Southern States, and is known to botanists as Quercus virens. The 
variety which forms the bulk of the shipments from Michigan is 

awakened from what journalism denominates "ancestral lethargy." The 
highways of commerce had just opened their gateways of trade, and the 
great City of the Straits of the present day was commercially an infant. 
In the light of these facts, it is a difficult matter to properly estimate the 
value of such effort and innovation as were put forth hy Mr. Frisbie dur- 
ing the first six years of his business life in Detroit. In remodeling and 
modernizing the stores occupied by him at the corner of Woodward and 
Jefferson avenues, he introduced the first plate glass windows in this city, 
which at that time, reaching from the pavement to the ceiling, created 
wonder and admiration. These early improvements had a most salutary 
influence in producing in rapid succession the many splendid features of 
modern Detroit. 

When the collection of stores occupied by Mr. Frisbie on Jefferson and 
Woodward avenues became too narrow for his continually expanding 
business, he removed to the extensive Weber block, further up Wood- 
ward avenue, which he still occupies. In this new and elegant building 
he opened to the public one of the finest retail dry goods houses in the 
Northwest. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 595 

Quereus alba, popularly known as white oak. It is highly esteemed 
for ship-buildiug, and is only exceeded in value for that purpose 
by the live oak of the South. 

The following will serve to give some idea of the magnitude of 
the lumber and timber trade of Michigan : 

In the year 1872 the aggregate of pine lumber cut by the mills 
of the State was 2,253,011,000 feet. Of this amount, the mills 
of the Saginaw valley cut 837,798,484 feet. The Muskegon Lake 
mills cut 316,031,400 feet; the Huron shore mills 175,500,000; 
Manistee mills, 161,900,000; Grand Haven mills, 150,000,000; 
Menominee mills, 136,113,360; Flint and Pere Marquette Rail- 
way mills, 114,234,554; White Lake mills, 85,302,347 ; Detroit 
and St. Clair River mills, 80,000,000 ; Jackson, Lansing and Sag- 
inaw Railway mills, 68,216,009; Saugatuck mills, 50,000,000; 
Ludington mills, 47,912,846; other mills, 30,000,000. 

Of shingles it is estimated that not less than 400,000,000 were 
produced the same year. Of lath about 300,000,000. 

The shipments of staves for the same year were as follows : 
Saginaw river, 8,663,200 ; Detroit, 2,102,000; Port Huron, 1,536,- 
900 ; Lexington, 204,000 ; New Baltimore, 184,000. 

About $20,000,000 are invested in the production of pine lum- 
ber, giving employment to nearly twenty thousand persons. This 
estimate does not include the enormous amount of money invested 
in pine lands, nor the men employed in the transportation of the 
lumber to market, or those employed in the lumber camps in the 
woods. 

In addition to the pine timber of the State, as before intimated, 
the hard wood forests are immense and valuable. These, espe- 
cially in the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula, have 
scarcely been touched. The quality of that kind of timber in the 
forests of Michigan is unrivaled ; and it is safe to predict that but 
a few years will elapse before the product from this source will 
equal in value the present traffic in pine. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 



Education r:N Michigan — The Common School System — I^e Uni- 
YEKBiTY — Agricultural College — State Normal School — 
Albion College — Adrian College — Kalamazoo College — Hills- 
DAiiE College — Olivet College — State Reform School — State 
Public School — Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind — 
Michigan Female Seminary — Detroit Medical College — 
Detroit Homeopathic College — Goldsmith's Bryant & Strat- 

TON BCSINE^?S UNIVERSITY — MaYIIEW BUSINESS COLLEGE. 

The ordiimuce passed by Congress for the government of the 
Northwestern Territory, known as the Ordinance of 1787, pro- 
vided that " Schools and the means of education shall forever 
be encouraged." In 1804 Congress passed an act providing for 
the sale of lands in the Indian Territory, of which Michigan 
was a part, and in that act there was an express reservation 
from sale of Section 16 in every township, "for the support of 
schools." The year following the Territory of Michigan was 
organized, and all the rights and privileges which were conferred 
by the above named acts were confirmed to the Territory of 
Michigan. Subsequently a provision wa* incorporated in the 
State constitution declaring that the proceeds of these lands shall 
" remain a perpetual fund for that object." The ordinance 
admitting Michigan into the Union declared that section 16 of 
each township should be granted to the State for the use of 
schools. The wisdom of this provision can be readily under- 
stood when it is known that much difficulty arose in other States 
from the inequality of the grant in different townships. This 
inequality was owing to the fact that in some townships the sec- 
tion would be found to be utterly worthless. This led to serious 
difficulties, and Congress or the Legislature was constantly 
besieged by these townships to come to their relief Learning 
wisdom from the experience of other^States, ^Michigan submitted 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



591 



an ordinance granting the lands to the State at large ; thus 
equalizing the grant among the several townships, and obviating 
the difficulty experienced by other States who had attempted to 
carry out the original design of Congress by giving each township 




J. H. GOLDSMITH. 

J. H. Goldsmith, President of Goldsmith's Bryant and Stratton Busi- 
ness College, Detroit, was born in the town of Newburg, Orange county. 
New York, in 1813. 

At the age of twenty-four, he went to Ohio, taking up his residence in 
Deavertown, which was at that time a young but flourishing town. Mr. 
Goldsmith first secured a position as book-keeper with a merchant in that 
place; but without taxing the reader with the details of his industrj-, or 
by following him step by step in the hours of his hope and struggle, it is 
sufficient to state that in six years after his arrival in Deavertown he was 



598 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

separate control of the section granted. Under the arrangement 
adopted in the case of Michigan, the loss occasioned by worthless 
sections fell upon the State at large, and the benefits accrued to 
all alike, each sharing, in common with the rest, the benefits of 
the common school fund. 

The first law passed by the Territorial Legislature in reference 
to schools was in 1827. This law provided that the citizens of 
any township having fifty householders should pi'ovide themselves 
with a school teacher, of good moral character, to teach the 
children to read and write. Any township having two hundred 
householders was required to provide themselves with a teacher 
who was capable of teaching Latin, French and English. A 
penalty of $50 to $100 was provided for neglect to comply with 
the provisions of the law. In 1833 another law was passed 
creating the office of superintendent of common schools. It also 
provided for three commissioners and ten inspectors, who were to 
have charge of the school lands. 

Upon the admission of the State into the Union, in 1837, the 
first State Legislature passed a primary school law, similar, in 
almost every respect, to the law of the State of New York. It 
provided for the division of the State into school districts, having 
a suflBcient number of inhabitants to support a teacher. All 
grades of pupils were admitted to these schools. When the pop- 
elected to the office of Mayor of that phxce. Having served the people 
in a most satisfactory manner during the first term, he was designated by 
the popular voice to fill the same position a second term. He remained 
in Deavertown until 1849, and during his residence in that place occupied 
many offices of public trust in the municipal government, besides mak- 
ing considerable advancement in mercantile pursuits. 

In 1849, he accepted the position of teacher in the business college of 
Mr. John Gundry, at Cincinnati, and since that date his life has been 
uninterruptedly devoted to the interesting theme of actual business prac- 
tice, and with what results will be seen anon. 

After several years in this college at Cincinnati, which gave him no 
small reputation as a professor of commercial ethics and business disci- 
pline, Mr. Goldsmith went to Sandusky, Ohio, and opened the Commer- 
cial Institute in connection with the School of Design in that place. 
Subsequently he was induced by Messrs. Bryant & Stratton to accept a 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 599 

ulation increased so that the school houses were too much crowded 
the district was subdivided. The same process was adopted in 
the villages, the result of which was that there would sometimes 
be five or six school houses within a stone's throw of each other. 
Very little attention was paid to school architecture, and some of 
the school houses were bad and some were worse. The character 
and duration of the several schools were also exceedingly vari- 
able ; some being good and some poor, and some continued for 
nine months and some for three. This state of affairs continued 
for a number of years ; but upon the discontinuing of the 
branches of the University, a new system was devised. By the 
new plan the various schools in the villages were united into one. 
These were called union schools. They were divided into several 
departments, called primary, intermediate, grammar and high 
school. Each department was divided into grades or classes, for 
purposes of different degrees of advancement. These schools are 
now designated as graded schools. The curriculum of the high 
school department is the same as that of the best academies, and 
pupils graduating from the high schools are entitled to enter the 
University without further examination. 

As has been intimated, the character of the school architecture 
of the State was of a very low order for many years. The estab- 
lishment of graded schools, however, created a necessity for a 

position as teacher in the graduating department of the Bufialo Bryant & 
Stratton Business College, and after filling the last mentioned post with 
honor to himself and credit to the institution for several years, he was 
admitted as a partner, and commissioned to found a Bryant & Stratton 
Business College in Detroit. Accordingly, in 1857, he visited the Queen 
City of the Straits, and purchased Mr. William D. Cochrane's Commer- 
cial Institute. It then took the name of Bryant, Stratton & Goldsmith's 
Business College, which it bore until 1869, when the last named gentle- 
man purchased the interests of his partners, thereby becoming the sole 
proprietor of one of the best commercial institutions in the Northwest. 

It should be stated that at the death of Mr. Stratton, which occurred 
about this time, a change in the proprietorship of all the Bryant & 
Stratton Business Colleges took place, the resident principal or partner at 
each point purchasing Bryant & Stratton's interest in the same. This 
necessitated a new and more permanent organization, based upon the 



600 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

better class of buildings. The State had, in the meantime, grown 
wealthy, the people were prosperous and intelligent, and fully 
appreciated the demands of the age. The result is that Michigan 
possesses, perhaps, the finest school buildings of any State in the 
Union, iu proportion to its wealth and population. Each town 
vied with the others in erecting the finest school edifice, and it is 
not uncommon to find, in a town of two or three thousand inhabi- 
tants, a school house costing $20,000 or $30,000. In the cities 
and larger towns they sometimes cost over $100,000. There are 
about 5,500 school houses in the State, the aggregate value of 
which is estimated to be not far from $7,500,000. 

In addition to the land granted by act of Congress before 
referred to, one-half the amount of the cash sales of the swamp 
lands of the State goes to augment the primary school fund. Of 
the former there were originally about 1,000,000 acres. A little 
over one-half of these lands have been sold, from which the sum 
of $2,601,319 has been realized. From the sale of swamp lands 
there has been received the sum of $218,462, making a total of 
$2,819,781 as the present school fund of the State. It is esti- 
mated that when the remaining school and swamp lands are sold, 
the school fund of Michigan will amount to at least $5,000,000. 

There are about 250 graded schools in the State, and 5,500 
district schools. These give employment to 8,035 male teachers, 

reciprocity plan, in order to perpetuate the benefits of the chain scholar- 
sliip, and to secure such other advantages as would be likely to flow from 
organized efTort, uniformity of text-books, siniilarily of practice, etc. 

In answer to this demand came the International Business College 
Association, extending throughout the United States and Canada, com- 
prising the best colleges formerly belonging to the Bryant & Stratton 
chain, and including some other lirst class commercial institutions that 
did not belong to it. 

As already observed, in 1869, the Bryant, Stratton & Goldsmith Detroit 
Business College came under the proprietorship of Mr. .J. H. Goldsmith, 
and is noticed in another part of this work, imder the head of the educa- 
tional interests of Michigan. 

Since the above date, Mr. Goldsmith has devoted his whole time to the 
advancement and interests of his college, and undoubtedly has brought it 
to nearly a state of perfection. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



601 



and 8,624 female teachers. The number of children reported in 
1872, between the ages of five and twenty years, is 404,235. 

The purpose of the founders of the school system of Michigan, 
was to adopt that of Prussia, so far as it was found adapted to the 




HON. C. C. COMSTOCK. 

Charles C. Comstock was born March 5, 1818, in Sullivan, Cheshire 
county, N. H. He is the youngest of the family of a respectable farmer of 
moderate means. At an early age he manifested much business tact and 
enterprise, was quite successful, and by industry and economy (so com- 
mon among New England people) at thirty-five years of age, had accu- 
mulated a property of about $10,000, and was considered one of the most 
thrifty farmers of that region. He had also built and operated two saw 
mills there. With his family, he removed to Grand Rapids, in 1 85;3, and 
was soon one of the foremost in the lumbering and wood manufacturin 



602 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

genius of our institutions, and the character and condition of the 
inhabitants of the State. It is safe to say that no better system 
prevails in America. 

THE UNIVERSITY. 

The act which we have before mentioned, passed in 1804, for 
the disposal of the public lands in the Indian Territory, reserved 
three townships " for the use of seminaries of learning." The 
year following the Territory of Michigan was organized, and one 
of these townships was set apart for her use. In 1817 Congress 
granted three sections of land to the College of Detroit. The 
moneys arising from the sale of these two grants of lands, 
together with another township subsequently granted, constitute 
the University fund. 

The lands granted by the act of 1804 were not selected until 
many years after. After the lapse of twenty years the authorities 
of the Territory decided to make the selection ; but it was then 
discovered that so much land had been taken up by settlers that 
it was diflScult to secure a good township of which none of the 
lands had been sold. An appeal was thereupon made to Congress, 
and, through the exertions of Hon. Austin E. Wing, then territo- 
rial delegate to Congress, that body passed an act adding another 
township to the grant, and giving permission to select the land in 
detached sections. Aside from the permanent fund arising from 

enterprises in tliat then young but vigorous city. Tlie financial crasli of 
1857-60 temporarily checked his business; but with redoubled energy, 
strong will, and resolution which knew no failure, he rallied, and in a 
short time was at the head of one of the most flourishing manufactories 
of cabinet wares in the West; had increased his lumbering operations 
and several branches of lumber manufacture many fold, and also invested 
largely in real estate, which was rapidly increasing in value. He 
built up and still owns and operates one of the largest pail and wooden- 
ware factories in the West; and in many other private and public enter- 
prises has taken an active and leading part. His strong hold is to " push 
things." With unflagging energy, tireless industry, indefatigable perse- 
verance, great power of endurance, thorough business integrity, prompt- 
ness and punctuality, strong judgment, managing, even in detail, heavy 
and various interests, he has built up a handsome property, and is reputed 
one of the wealthy citizens of the State. A worker himself, he has given 



604 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the sale of these lands, the successive Legislatures have 'made 
liberal appropriations from time to time for its support and the 
advancement of its interests. 

The framers of the constitution under which the State was 
organized took good care to provide in the organic law that all 
lands granted for educational purposes should be invariably 
appropriated, and annually applied to the specific objects of the 
original grant. A similar provision was incorporated into the 
present constitution. The University fund was thus made inalien- 
able, and can never be diverted from its proper uses without a 
gross violation of the organic law of the State. Notwithstanding 
these safeguards thus thrown around the University fund, it 
required the most jealous watchfulness on the part of the friends 
of that institution, during the monetary pressure which pre- 
vailed in the early history of the State, to prevent a diversion of 
the fund to other purposes. 

The first Legislature which convened after the admission of the 
State into the Union, passed a law establishing the University. 
It was not, however, uutil 1841 that buildings were completed, so 
that its work could be entered upon. The act also provided that 
in addition to the University proper, which was located in Ann 
Arbor, several branches should be established in various parts of 
the State, to serve as preparatory schools. This experiment 
proved to be a failure, there not being sufficient funds arising 

employment to thousands, and thus and by the interest he lias taken in 
municipal affairs has contributed greatly to the progress and material 
growth of his city and county. Though absorbed in business he is liberal 
in feeling, responding freely to calls for religious, benevolent and public 
purposes. Mr C'omstock has served ably in official positions; was mayor 
of Grand Kapids for two terms, in 18():i-4; was the Democratic candidate 
for governor of the State in 1870, receiving the full vote of his party, 
and in his own county running ahead of the rest of his party ticket. In 
the fall of 1878, he received the nomination as the people's candidate for 
representative in Congress from his district to fill the vacancy caused by 
the death of Hon. W. D. Foster, and at the special election held for that 
purpose, he made an unprecedented run, Reducing the majority of the 
dominant party from 8,(')0(5 to 114. He may be regarded as a prominent 
repre.sentative of the successful business men of the West. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



605 



from the grant to meet the expenses of the University itself It 
was therefore abandoned, after a few years' trial, and the union 
or graded schools have now taken the place of the branches. 
The University buildings were erected with borrowed capital, 




HON. JONATHAN SHEARER. 

The subject of the following sketch, Jonathan Shearer, was born in 
Colerain, Hampshire (now Franklin) county, Massachusetts, August 23, 
1796. His grandfather, James Shearer, was a native of Scotland, and 
emigrated to this country at an early day. William Shearer, father of 
Jonathan Shearer, entered the revolutionary army at an early age, and 
served in several of the principal battles of the war for independence. 
The subject of this sketch spent the early part of his life upon a farm, 
working on the same during the summer season and usually attending 
school in winter. He volunteered his services to the State government 



606 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the State borrowing $100,000 and re-loaning it to the University, 
with the understanding that principal and interest should be 
returned at some future time, from money arising from the sale of 
University lands. In 1842 the University was opened, having a 
preparatory school connected with it. Two professors were 
appointed, each having a salary of $500 per annum. They were 
also entitled to whatever money was paid for tuition in the pre- 
paratory school. A multitude of hindrances presented themselves 
in the way of the advancement of the University, but, notwith- 
standing all the difficulties it had to eucounter, it soon rose to a 
commanding position among the educational institutions of the 
country. 

The governing body of the institution consists of a Board of 
Regents. They are elected for a term of eight years by popular 
vote. The president of the University is ex officio president of 
the board. The University is organized in three departments ; 
the department of literature, science, and the arts ; the depart- 
ment of medicine and surgery ; and the department of law. 
Each department has its faculty of instruction, who are charged 
with the special management of it. The University Senate is 
composed of all the faculties, and considers questions of common 
interest and importance to all the departments. 

The department of literature, science and the arts has six regu- 

in the war of 1813, but not being of the proper age, was rejected. He 
then determined to ship as a sailor on a privateer, but parental influence 
caused him to change his mind. 

In 1814, he attended a select scliool in New York, and at the age of 
nineteen, he commenced teaching school in and about the districts where 
he was born, and also gave some attention to the study of medicine and 
the statute laws of Massachusetts. 

Mr. Shearer subsequently removed to the State of New York, and 
settled in the town of Phelps, Ontario county, in which place he married. 

Mr. Shearer served as assessor in this place for four years. After a 
residence of thirteen years in New York, he sold his farm, removed to 
Michigan with his family and settled at Plymouth, Wayne county. Soon 
after his settlement in the above place, he was elected supervisor, and 
subsequently county commissioner. Mr. Shearer served the county of 
Wayne in this official position without losing a single day while he held 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 607 

lar and full courses of four years each, and two shorter courses. 
The regular courses are the classical, the scientific, the Latin and 
scientific, the Greek and scientific, the course in civil engineering, 
and the course in mining engineering. The special courses are 
the course in analytical chemistry, and the course in pharmacy. 
Past graduate courses are provided for the graduates of this Uni- 
versity, or for the graduates of any college or university, who 
may desire to pursue advanced study, whether for a second degree 
or not. Students who do not wish to pursue any one of the above 
courses may, if they are prepared to enter the University, pursue 
selected studies, for such time — not less than one semester — as 
they may choose. The department of medicine and surgery, fur- 
nishes instruction chiefly by lectures. The lecture course extends 
over a period of six months. The department of law, also, con- 
tinues its lectures for six months, from the beginning of October 
to the end of March. Students in any department may enter the 
classes in any other upon obtaining permission from the faculties 
of the respective departments. 

The University library contains about 22,000 volumes. In 
1871 it was enlarged by the addition of the library of the late 
Prof Rau, professor of political economy in the University of 
Heidelberg, Germany. This library was purchased and presented 
to the University by the Hon. Philo Parsons, of Detroit. About 

office. Soon after this, he was elected to the State senate, and at the 
expiration of his first term, was reelected. While a member of the senate, 
Mr. Shearer was chairman of the committee on agriculture, and used 
his influence to organize a State agricultural society, and the normal 
school at Ypsilanti. 

In 1851, he was elected to serve in the State house of representatives, 
and in 1867, was elected to serve as a member of the convention to revise 
the constitution of the State. He contributed not a little towards 
influencing the legislature to select Lansing as the site of the new State 
Capitol. 

Mr. Shearer, at the advanced age of seventy-seven, is still active in 
body and mind. As an early pioneer, and as a high-minded, honorable 
citizen, he has long held the respect and high esteem of all those with 
whom he has been brought in contact, either as a private or a public 
citizen. 



608 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

two thousand dollars is annually appropriated for the enlarge- 
ment of the University library. The medical library contains 
about fifteen hundred volumes. The law library contains about 
three thousand volumes. The libraries accessible to the students 
amount, in the aggregate, to about 30,000 volumes. 

In connection with the University there is an astronomical 
observatory. This was a donation from the citizens of Detroit. 
The building consists of a main part, with a movable dome, and 
two wings, one of which contains the rooms for the observer, while 
in the other is mounted a splendid meridian-circle. This was pre- 
sented to the University by the Hon. H. N. Walker, of Detroit. 
This instrument is one of the largest and best of its kind in exist- 
ence. The same room contains a sidereal clock, and two collima- 
tors for the determination of the error of collimation. The west 
wing contains a chronograph, with Bond's new isodynamic escape- 
ment, for recording observations by the electro-magnetic method. 
In the dome is mounted a large refracting telescope, with an 
object glass thirteen inches in diameter. 

The collections in the University museum are illustrative of 
natural science, ethnology, art, history, agriculture, astronomy and 
materia medica, and are constantly increasing. The geological, 
zoological and botanical cabinets together are estimated to con- 
tain about 29,000 separate entries, and 100,000 specimens. 
Besides these there are the departments of the fine arts and 
history, anatomy and materia medica, and of archaeology and 
relics, each of which contains numerous specimens. 

In this University no charge is made for tuition. The only 
charges made are, to residents in Michigan, an admission fee of 
ten dollars ; to those who come from other States, or countries, an 
admission fee of twenty-five dollars ; and to every student an 
annual payment of ten dollars. Females are admitted to this 
University on the same condition as males. 

The University is now in a flourishing condition, and is acknowl- 
edged as standing at the head of the educational institutions of 
America. It has come up through great tribulation, but the 
glorious results amply compensate for the labor and money 
expended in bringing it to its present state of perfection. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



609 



The whole number of students in the University, as reported in 
the calendar for 1872-3, is 1,163. Of these 476 are in the 
department of literature, science and the arts, 357 in the depart- 
ment of medicine and surgery, and 331 in the department of law. 




OKEMOS. 

The above engraving is a portrait of the noted Indian chief Okemos, 
wlio belonged to the Chippewa tribe. 

He was born about the year 1788, and the first distinguislied act 
recorded of liim is his participation in tlie attack on Fort Sandusky, in 
tlie war of 1812. Tlie commandant of the fort had been ordered to sur- 
render, which, coming to the knowledge of the Indians, made them 
much bolder than usual, and they made a charge upon the fort, but were 
driven back. Cheered on by the chief Tecumseh and his subordinates, 
they made a second charge and were again driven back. In this charge, 
while urging on his braves, Okemos was severely wounded in the 
shoulder, the bullet passing through his body. He fell to the ground, and 
as the Indians retreated, the occupants of the Fort made a charge upon 
them with their cavalry, and as many of the soldiers rode iia>;t the 
wounded chief, they gave him, as they supposed, the finish! jig blow. 
39 



610 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

THE STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

The Michigan State Agricultural College was located under act 
of the Legislature, by the State Board of Education, about the 
middle of the year 1855, on a piece of laud, purchased for the 
purpose, situated three and a half miles directly east from Lan- 
sing. 

This farm of 676 acres was entirely covered by forest at the 
time of purchase, but has since developed an excellent diversity 
of soil for farming and experimental purposes, and sufficient vari- 
ety of contour to render it a beautiful and attractive place. 

Under the direction of the Board of Education, there were 
erected a college hall, boarding hall, three cottages for officers, and 
a small barn. These Avere all of brick. The college was opened 
for students May 13th, 1857, with Joseph R. AVilliams as presi- 
dent. 

The institution continued under the control of the State Board 

With that endurance known only to his race, he received these wounds 
witliout showing the least sign of life, not even uttering a groan. After 
the return of the soldiers, he crawled to a swarapy piece of woods near 
by, where he buried himself in the soft .soil and leaves, and there remained 
until the darkness of night afforded him a shelter for escape. Weak from 
the loss of blood and exhausted l)y the strife of the day, he mounted a 
pony which was grazmg near by, and made his way to his camp on the 
Maumee river, where he remained until his wounds were hea'ed. 

Subsequently he participated in many of the Indian depredations on 
the frontiers, and took part in three dilierent treaties made with General 
Cass 

Under the influence of the Indian agent. Colonel G. Godfrey, he was 
induced to forsake the British standard and espouse the cause of the 
Americans, to whom he remained a true friend until his death. 

After the close of hostilities, with his band, he settled on the Looking 
Glass river, near Jjansing, Michigan, where now stands the beautiful vil- 
lage which bears his name. 

During his later days, though a beggar and a constant imbiber of "fire- 
water," he was very proud of his name, and related the brave deeds of 
his more youthful days with great animation and piide. 

He died at h-s wigwam, on the Looking Glass river, in 1863, leaving 
three sons, one of whom has since followed him to "the happy hunting 
grounds far beyond the setting sun." 



(312 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

of Education until 1861, when a law was passed by the Legisla- 
ture reorganizing the college, and establishing a State Board of 
Agriculture for the management of the institution. 

In 1862, Congress made a grant of land to the several States, 
for the benefit of schools of agriculture and the mechanic arts, at 
the rate of thirty thousand acres for each Senator and Representa- 
tive. The proceeds of this grant was given by act of the Legis- 
lature to the Agricultural College. It is under the control of a 
Land Grant Board, composed of State officers. All moneys aris- 
ing from the sale of lands are paid into the State treasury, and the 
college simply draws seven per cent interest on the same. 

No portion of the proceeds of this grant can be used for the 
erection or repair of buildings, hence all such improvements must 
be made by direct appropriation of the Legislature. 

In organizing the college, the Legislature appropriated the pro- 
ceeds of salt spring lands to the amount of about $56,000, which 
was all used up, before the institution was opened, in the purchase 
of the farm and the erection of buildings. 

The Legislature also appropriated about six thousand acres of 
swamp lands lying in townships near the college. A large portion 
of these have been sold, and the proceeds expended in building 
and other permanent improvements. 

Since the opening of the college, about four hundred acres of 
the farm have been cleared, and the most of this entirely freed 
from stumps, so that now many of the fields will compare favor- 
ably with the best in the State. The work has been mostly pei'- 
formed by students. 

Nearly a hundred acres are devoted to lawns, and are being 
tastefully laid out with drives and walks ; many evergreens and 
deciduous trees have been planted, and have already attained a fine 
growth. Many of the original forest trees were purposely left 
when the laud was cleared, and these add not a little to the beauty 
of the grounds. It is the intention to make as fine a specimen 
of landscape gardening as means will permit, and it is hoped that 
the students may have the benefit of as great perlectiou in this 
art as can be found elsewhere in the State. 

Under the direction of the Board of Agriculture, there have 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



61^ 



been erected a three-story brick boarding-hall, fitted with the 
modern improvements for heating, cooking, etc., a chemical labor- 
atory, also of brick, which, for convenience of internal arrange- 
ment, is not excelled by any in the country, large and commodious 




EDGAR CONKLING. 

Edgar Conki<ing, for many years aa extensive and successful manu- 
facturer of Cincinnati, Ohio, came to Michigan in 1853, and purchased 
then and at a later period 35,000 acres of land in the center of Mackinaw 
— the extreme northern point of the southern peninsula. He had, for 
several j^ears previous, been prominently identified with extensive rail- 
road projects, such as the Cincinnati and Great Northern Railroad, and 
had thus become acquainted with the commercial advantages and future 
prospects of the country bounding on the straits of Mackinaw. His 
great foresight readily discerned that the march of Michigan's prosperity 
must, at no very distant day, result in building up a large and prosperous 
city at Mackinaw. Seizing upon the opportunity, he purchased almost 



614 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

cattle, horse and sheep barns and piggery, besides smaller tempo- 
rary buildings for experiments, implements, etc., a large brick 
farm-house and a green-house. 

The State Legislature, in 1869, appropriated $30,000 for the 
erection of the boarding hall, and, in 1871, $10,000 for the chemi- 
cal laboratory. The Legislature has also appropriated at different 
times about $12,000 for the finishing of some of the buildings. 
All other expenditures for buildings and other improvements and 
repairs have been met by sales of swamp lands. 

The total value of property at the college, as shown by inven- 
tory, December 1, 1872, is as follows : 

Farm of 676 acres $47,320 00 

Buildings 1 1 6, 500 00 

Stock 9,387 00 

Farm Implements 3,253 00 

the whole of the lands of Mackinaw, and at once proceeded to lay out a 
city on a modern scale. 

This gigantic speculation, which must result in great advantages to 
Michigan, brings Mr. Conkling prominently before the people of the 
State; and when it is considered to what extent his theory of establish- 
ing a commercial mart at Mackinaw — as we shall proceed to do in this 
sketch — is sound and practicable, Ave are left to wonder at his unparal- 
leled foresight and the philosophy of his project. 

Of Mr. Coukling's personal history we can say but little, since the 
space given to this sketch must be occupied by an examination into the 
merits of his great " Mackinaw City " scheme. He was the originator of 
the Grand Kapids and Indiana Railroad, and was the first to urge the con- 
struction of the Jackson, Lansing and Saginaw Railroad to the Straits of 
Mackinaw. It is only necessary to observe the growth of these enter- 
prises to be able to comprehend the value of Mr. Conkling's prescience 
to the prosperity of Michigan. 

In looking at the "Mackinaw City" project (in which the reader is 
aided by the accompanying map), one is at once struck with its feasi- 
bility. With the Northern Pacific Railroad terminating at the extreme 
southern point of the northern peninsula, and directly across the straits 
from Mackinaw City, it is evident that, by the aid of some system of 
ferriage, the great volume of commerce transported eastward by that 
road must connect with railroads in the southern peninsula of Michigan 
at Mackinaw City. This will, of itself, do much to induce population to 
that place, and to furnish a basis of an extensive commercial metropolis. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



615 



Library, Museum and Apparatus $10,000 00 

Greenhouse Plants 2,127 00 

Apiary 1 16 00 

Furniture 3,280 00 



$191,989 
The institution aims to give its students a good practical educa- 
tion that shall make vun of them, and enable them to undertake 
any occupation they may find suited to their tastes. 

To this end the course pursued does not diflPer much from that 
of other colleges, except that the natural sciences are studied 
more thoroughly, and classics not at all ; and all branches bearing 
upon agriculture, those which are of most use to farmers, are very 
thoroughly investigated. Cliemistry and botany are given nearly 
two years each. Physiology, zoology, geology and entomology are 
all pursued as far as possible; and, during the course, the stu- 

But this is only one of the many avenues of wcnllli that must in the 
future empty their treasures at Mackinaw City. The immense commerce 
of the lalies, the growtli of whicii has been unparalleled in the liistory of 




<y EDGAR CONKLING PRO PR I ETO R. VT 



the world, and the vast mineral, timber and agricultural resources of 
their shores, which are even now only beginning to attract attention, 
may well awaken a desire on the part of enterprise to get possession of 
the key position which is to command and unlock the future wealth of 
this vast empire. Already six important cities, witli an aggregate popu- 
lation of over 000,000 inhabitants, have sprung up on these inland waters, 
and are the most flourishing of any away from the Atlantic coast. 
Others are rising into notoriety on the borders of Lake Superior, and 
must, at no very distant period, become important and active places of 
business. But, the place of all others, where a city must ultimately 
spring up and grow into unportance, is undeveloped. 

The Toledo BUide, speaking of the probable future of Mackinaw City, 
as projected by Mr. Coukling, says : " The point which projects north- 



G16 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

dents receive a year of lectures ou practical agriculture, the like 
of which probably cannot be obtained elsewhere in the United 
States. 

A peculiar feature of the institution is its labor system. Stu- 
dents are required to work three hours a day ; and, although they 
are paid a small sum per hour, the labor is considered a valuable 
part of the course of instruction. Not that it is expected that 
students wull attain proficiency in all the practices of the farm, or 
even in any of them ; but the general influence toward the enno- 
bling of labor, the forming and keeping up of habits of industry, 
and the good effect upon the health and strength of the students, 
all tend to make it valuable. Very few students leave the college 
because of ill health. 

The pursuits followed by the graduates show better than any 
thing else the general influence of their studies. 

ward into the lake from tlie Michigan peninsula to t'orni the strait, is 
admirably located for a great city. In health and commercial position, 
it can have no rival in these northern waters. This point has been 
selected by Mr. Conkling, on which to plant the commercial city of the 
north. It will hold the ke}' (jointly with her sister on the opposite side 
of the strait) of all the northern lakes; and should its growth be marked 
by energy and enterprise, will command the trade of the greatest mining 
region in the world; be the chief depot of the northern fisheries, the 
outlet of an immense lumber trade, and the focus of a great net-work of 
railways, communicating with tropics on the south, and stretching out 
its iron arms, at no distant day, to the Atlantic on the east, and the 
Pacific on the west. The proposed city will have the advantage of the 
most salubrious climate to be found in the temperate zone, and will be 
the resort of those seeking health as well as those seeking wealth." 

We have no space to speak of its commercial position at length. It 
must be seen at a glance that all the produce which flows through 
Chicago, Milwaukee and the great west, must sweep by on its way to the 
east, and all the goods and merchandise of the east must be borne by its 
wharves on their way to the west, and that it cannot fail to be a point which 
must spring at once into importance. This grand project of Mr. Conk- 
ling's is growing rapidly in favor. A good dock has been constructed, 
the site of the city and its streets surveyed, and such steps taken as will 
insure its early settlement and near prosperity. Mr. Conkling has appro- 
priated a large tract of his land for the benefit of a university, which he 
expects will be established at Mackinaw City at an early day. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



617 



In spite of all assertions of opponents to the college that its 
graduates do not engage in agricultural pursuits, the actual facts 
in the case are found to be as follows : 

The occupation of the members of the last graduating class 




HON. JOHN S. BARRY. 

.John S. Barry, who was governor of Michigan for three terms, was 
born in the State of Vermont, in 1802. 

Wliile he resided in tliat State he acquired a thorough common scliool 
education. 

From Vermont, at an earlj'' age, he emigrated to Georgia, and settled 
in the city of Atlanta, where he remained for a number of years, when 
he removed to the Territory of Michigan, and took up his residence in 
the town of Constantine, at which place he resided until his death. 

Mr. Barry was educated for a lawyer, but disliking the profession, he 



618 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

(1872) is not known. Of the sixty-eight graduates of the years 
18()1 to 1871 inclusive, the occupations are shown in the following 
list: 

Died in the army before engaging in business 2 

Farmers and Horticulturists 30 

Teachers in Colleges and having charge of Farms or Horticultural 

Depaitments 5 

Teachers in Colleges but having no charge of Farms 3 

Students in Chemistry 1 

Engineers and Surveyors 3 

Manufacturers 1 

In Medicine or Drug Stores 6 

Lawy c rs 8 

Merchants, Agents, etc 4 

Clergymen 1 

Teachers not in Colleges 4 

Total • . . 68 

Fifty-eight of these graduates spent four years at least at the 
college ; all the others spent three. The average age at gradua- 
tion is twenty-two and one-fifth years. 

More than one-half the number depended in a large degree, 
some of them entirely, on their earnings, for the means of gaining 
an education. 

Graduates of the college form part of the faculties of instruc- 
tion in Cornell University, Wisconsin University, Minnesota Uni- 

early turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, in which he was emi- 
nently successful. 

His first public office was that of a member of the first constitutional 
convention which assembled tind framed the constitution upon which 
Michigan was admitted into the Union. He took a prominent part in 
the proceedings of this body, and showed himself to be a man of far 
more than ordinary ability. 

He was chosen one of the first State senators under the new State gov- 
ernment, and so favorably were his associates impressed with his abilities 
at the first session of the legislature, that he received the nomination and 
was elected governor of the State in 1841, and reelected in 1^43. He 
was governor of the Stale dnring her greatest financial difficulties, and it 
is to his wisdom and sound judgment that Michigan's finances were 
placed upon a firm basis. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 619 

versity, Iowa Agricultural College, and Michigan Agricultural 
College. One was selected by Colonel Capron to go with him to 
Japan, in the agricultural service of its Emperor. One gained 
the first Walker Prize, for an essay on a topic assigned by the 
Boston Society of Natural History, and was assistant director in 
an exploring expedition sent to the Valley of the Amazon. 
Another was made botanist of an expedition sent from a neighbor- 
ing State into Western Kansas and Colorado. Another is the 
entomologist, and still another is the meteorologist of the State 
Pomological Society, and still another is Secretary to the State 
Bee Keepers' Association; two of them have charge of divisions 
as assistant engineers on railroads; three of them have had j^laces 
on the editorial staff of agricultural papers ; two more farmers 
have of their own accord given up good places in the faculties 
of agricultural colleges, and the clergyman has been for several 
years the president of a farmers' club, whose average weekly 
attendance is over three hundred persons, and most of the lawyers 
are not infrequent Avriters on the subject of agricultural education. 

THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. 

When the branches of the University were abolished, their loss 
was severely felt throughout the State, as they gave a great deal 
of attentioji to the training of teachers. Numerous petitions were 
sent to the Legislature, by parents and teachers, urgently request- 
ing the establishment of a school especially devoted to that object. 

In 1840, he became deeply interested in tbe cultivalion of tlie sugar 
beet, and visited Europe in tbis connection, obtaining much desirable 
information in regard to it. 

In 1849, Mr. Barry was, for the third time, called to the executive chair 
of the State, and therefore has the reputation of being the only person 
that ever held that el^evated position for three terms. He was twice a 
presidential elector, and his last public service was that of a delegate to 
the Democratic national convention held in Chicago in 18G4. 

Mr. Barry was a man who, throughout life, maintained a high charac- 
ter for integrity and fidelity to the trusts bestowed upon him, whether of 
a public or a private nature, and he is acknowledged by all to have been 
one of the most efficient and popular governors our State has ever had. 
He died at Constantine, on the 15th of January, 1870, 



620 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Accordingly, in 1849, the Legislature passed an act creating a 
normal school. It was located at Ypsilanti, and opened in 1852. 
It is under the control of the State Board of Education, consisting 
of three members chosen by the people. The superintendent of 
public instruction is ex officio secretary of the board. 

This school has been eminently successful, and its value to the 
State can hardly be ever estimated. The demand for its gradu- 
ates to serve as teachers, in different parts of the State, is more 
than can be supplied. Professor Estabrook, the principal, reports 
for the year 1872, an attendance of about four hundred pupils. 
Eleven teachers are employed to do the work. 

ALBION COLLEGE. 

Albion College is located at Albion, a thriving village in the 
central portion of the State. In 1843 the Wesleyan Seminary 
was opened at Albion. A few years later its charter was so 
amended that it enjoyed the powers and immunities of a female 
college. In 1861 its charter was again amended, and Albion Col- 
lege was founded, with full collegiate powers, admitting both 
ladies and gentlemen to equal privileges, duties and honors. 

The institution is under the patronage of the Michigan and 
Detroit annual conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
It is in a flourishing condition, having, in 1872, two hundred and 
sixteen students. 

ADRIAN COLLEGE. 

Adrian College is located at Adrian, a beautiful and flourish- 
ing town in the southeastern part of the State. The college was 
incorporated in 1859, and its first term of instruction commenced 
the same year. It was formerly under the patronage of the Wes- 
leyan Methodist denomination, but, in 1867, was transferred to 
the Methodist Church. It is, however, b^sed upon a liberal 
policy, and its board of trustees and faculty are chosen solely 
with reference to their fitness for their respective positions, and 
without reference to whether they belong to that particular 
religious denomination. Its departments of instruction are open 
to both sexes, and include thorough classical and scientific 
courses. Commercial studies, teaching, painting and music are 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



621 



also included in the course of instruction. Its buildings are 
handsome and spacious, and are all that could be desired for a 
first-class institution. 




HON. MOSES WISNER. 

Moses Wisner, governor of the State of Michigan in 1859 and 1860, 
was born in Springport, Cayuga county, New York, June 3, 1815. 

His early education was onlj'- such as could be obtained at a common 
school, and embraced such branches as are taught to the sons of farmers 
and others in moderate circumstances. 

In 1837 he emigrated to Michigan and purchased a farm in Lapeer 
county, upon which he labored for two years, when he gave up the idea 
of living a farmer's life, removed to Pontiac, Oakland county, and com- 
menced the study of law in the office of his brother, George W. Wisner, 



622 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

KALAMAZOO COLLEGE. 

Kalamazoo College embraces several departments, each, to a 
considerable extent, distinct from the others. It embraces a 
college proper, designed to furnish instruction to young men in 
a course of study similar to that adopted in the best institu- 
tions of other States. It also embraces a female department, 
with a four years course, including all the higher branches usu- 
ally taught in colleges of this class. There is also a prepara- 
tory de[)artment, open to the youth of both sexes. There is 
also a commercial department, designed to fit students for any 
situation in commercial life. There is also a normal depart- 
ment for the training of those who desire to teach. 

This college was chartered in 1833, and the first building 
erected was burned in 1844. The present buildings are fine 
and costly edifices, and beautifully situated. The village of 
Kalamazoo is one of the most beautiful and healthful towns in 
America. It contains about ten tliousand inhabitants, and is 
known as the " big village " of Michigan. In 1872 there were, 
in all the departments, 207 students. 

HILLSDALE COLLEGE. 

Hillsdale College is located at the flourishing town whose 
name it bears. It is under the jurisdiction of the Free-will 

and Rufiis Hosmer. In 1841 he was admitted to the bar and established 
liimself in his new vocation at tlie village of Lapeer. While here he 
was appointed by Governor Woodbridge prosecuting attornej' for that 
count3^ He did not remain here long, however, but shortly returned to 
Pontiac, where lie became a member of the firm with his brother. 

He was in politics a Whig of the Henry Clay stamp, but with a decided 
anti-slaverj' leaning. His practice, however, becoming large, he took 
little part in politics until after the election of Franklin Pierce to the 
presidency in 1853. In the great struggle respecting the freedom of the 
territory acquired by the Mexican war, he took a decided stand against 
the introduction of slavery into it. 

On the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854, repealing the Mis- 
souri Compromise, he was among the foremost in Michigan to denounce 
it, and actively participated in organizing and consolidating the elements 
opposed lo it, and was a member of the popular gathering at Jackson in 
July, 1854, which was the first formal Republican gathering held in the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 623 

Baptist Church. Its buildings are spacious and handsome, and 
the institution bears a brilliant reputation. Both sexes are 
admitted on equal terms. In addition to the college proper there 
are preparatory departments for both ladies and gentlemen ; a 
theological department, a commercial department, a department 
of music, and a department of art. In 1872 there were 606 stu- 
dents in attendance in all the departments. 

OLIVET COLLEGE. 

Olivet College is situated in the flourishing town of Olivet, and 
is one of the leading denominational institutions of the State. 
It is under the patronage of the Congregational Church. Stu- 
dents are admitted to this college without regard to sex. Besides 
the college proper there is a preparatory department, to which 
a normal course has been added within the last two years, and 
a professorship of the theory and practice of teaching established. 
The college library numbers over four thousand volumes, and 
about $400 per annum is expended in the increase of the library, 
and in the support of the reading room, in which are found the 
leading magazines and newspapers of the day. The number of 
students in attendance, during the year 1872, was 307. Of these 
124 were ladies and 183 were gentlemen. 

United States. At this convention Mr. AVisner was urged to accept the 
nomination of attorney-general, but declined. He, however, took an 
active part in tlie campaign, and had the gratification to see the wliole 
Kepulican ticket elected by a majority of nearly ten thousand. 

In the presidential canvass of 1856 he supported the Fremont or Repub- 
lican ticket, and at the session of the legislature of 1857 he was a candi- 
date for the United States senate, and as such received a very handsome 
support. 

In 1858 he was nominated for governor of the State by the Republican 
convention, and at the subsequent election in November was chosen by a 
large majority. He served in this capacity for one term, and his adminis- 
tration was marked by a high statesmanship and by a large number of 
internal improvements which greatly aided in the development of the 
resources of the State. With the close of his term in .January, 1861, he 
returned to his home in Pontiac and to the practice of his profession. 

Upon the breaking out of the rebellion he arranged his private business, 



624 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

In addition to the foregoing there are several colleges in dif- 
ferent parts of the State, of more or less importance, prominent 
among which are the Hope College of Holland, and the Michi- 
gan Female College at Lansing. Another institution of great 
importance to the State, is 

THE STATE REFORM SCHOOL. 

This School was established at Lansing, in 1856, and is designed 
to afford homeless boys an opportunity to escape from a career 
of crime Avhich would otherwise await them, and to afford such 
instruction as will enable them, upon leaving the school, to 
obtain an honest livelihood. It occupies a beautiful building, 
which overlooks the Grand river, at Lansing. The pupils are 
chiefly employed in farming and gardening ; but a portion of 
them work at various trades. All the branches of a common 
school education are taught. A chapel is attached to the school, 
and everything is done to elevate and reform its inmates. 

STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL. 
In 1871 the State Legislature passed an act to establish a 
State public school for dependent and neglected children. The 
act provided for the appointment, by the Govei-nor, of three com- 

and in the spring and summer of 1862 raised the Twenty-second Regi- 
ment of Michigan Lifantry and was commissioned its Colonel on the 8th 
of September of that year. His regiment was sent to Kentucky and 
quartered at Camp Wallace. Remaining here some time he became 
impatient at the delay, and this and the hardships of camp life soon 
made their influence felt upon his heaUh, and he was seized with the 
typhoid fever and removed to Lexington in that State. Here he received 
ail the aid kind friends and the medical fraternity could bestow upon 
him, but the malady baffled all skill, and on the 5th of .January, 18G.3, he 
breathed his last. 

As a lawyer Governor Wisner was a man of great ability, with an 
intrepidity and richness of illustration and a power of argument that 
rendered him a most formidable opponent His elo((uence was at once 
graceful and powerful, and his logic was irresistible. 

He was kind; he was generous and brave; and, like thousands of 
others, he sleeps the martyr's sleep which his love of country cost him. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



625 



missioners for the purpose of selecting a suitable site, and erecting 
buildings thereon, for this school. The Governor appointed a 
commission in pursuance of this law, and the beautiful and flour- 
ishing city of Coldwater was selected as the site for the school. 




^' -^-^^^s-^ 



HON. E. RANSOM. 

Epaphboditus Rajjsom, the seventh governor of the State of Michi- 
gan, was a native of Massachusetts. In that State he received a colle- 
giate education, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. 

Removing to Michigan about the time of its admission to the Union, he 
took up his residence at Kalamazoo. 

Mr. Ransom served with marked ability for a number of years in the 
State legislature, and in 1837 he was appointed associate justice of the 
supreme court. In 1843 he was promoted to chief justice, which office 
he retained until 1845, when he resigned. 
40 



626 GENERAL HtStORV OF TflE StAftS. 

The act provides that there shall be received as pupils in this 
school, those children that are over four aud under sixteen years 
of age, that are in suitable condition in body and mind to receive 
instruction, who are neglected and dependent, especially those 
who are now maintained in the county poor houses, those who 
have been abandoned by their parents, or are orphans, or whose 
parents have been convicted of crime. The children in the school 
are to be maintained, and educated in the branches usually 
taught in common schools, and are to have proper physical and 
moral training. It is declared to be the object of this act to 
provide for such children only temporary homes, until homes can 
be procured for them in families. Preference is given to depend- 
ent and indigent orphans, or half orphans, of deceased soldiers 
and sailors of this State. 

MICHIGAN ASYLUM FOR THE DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND. 

A review of the educational institutions of Michigan would 
not be complete without the mention of the above named benevo- 
lent institution. It is located at Flint, one of the most enter- 
prising and flourishing cities in the State. Operations were begun 
in this institution in 1854. It has a large number of inmates, 
who are taught to manufacture wagons, paper boxes, and to 
weave carpets, mats, etc. They are also taught to read and 
write, aud are enabled to acquire a liberal education. The asy- 

Sliortly afterwards he became deeply interested in the building of 
plank roads in the western portion of the State, and in this business lost 
the greater portion of the property which he had accumulated by years 
of toil and industry. 

Mr. Ransom became governor of the State of ^Michigan in the fall of 
1847, and served during one term, performing the duties of the office in 
a truly statesmanlike manner. He subsequently became president of the 
Michigan agricultural society, in which position he displayed the same 
ability that shone forth so prominently in his acts as governor. He held 
the office of regent of the Michigan University several times, and ever 
advocated a liberal policy in its management. 

Subsequently he was appointed receiver of the land office in one of the 
districts in Kansas, by President Buchanan, to which State he had 
removed, and where he died before the expiration of his term of office. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



627 



lum is free to all the deaf and dumb and blind in Michigan, 
between the ages of ten and thirty years. All are entitled to an 
education without charge for board or tuition. 

MICHIGAN FEMALE SEMINARY. 
The " Michigan Female Seminary," located at Kalamazoo, was 
organized by the adoption of its " articles of association," consti- 
tuting it a corporation, on the fifteenth day of December, A. D. 
1856. The powers of the association were vested in twenty-one 
trustees. An executive committee of five act for the board in the 
interim between its meetings, with powers to carry out the instruc- 
tions and resolutions of the board. 




MICHIGAN FEMALE SEMINARY. 

The Board of Trustees have power to fill vacancies in their 
own body, subject to the ratification of the Synod of Michigan. 
To guard against any strictly sectarian influence in the manage- 
ment and teachings of the seminary, its charter provides that, 
" religiously considered, the board of trustees shall secure the 
inculcation of a pure Christianity, without any preference what- 
ever to any particular church, form or practice." 

During the year 1836, the exterior walls of the center part of 
the seminary were erected and inclosed, but the building remained 
unfinished until the fall of 1866. It was then finished and fur- 
nished, and now has accommodations for seventy-five pupild, and 
the proper number of teachers. 



628 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

As expressed in the charter, the intent was " to establish, 
endow and control a seminary of learning, for the education of 
young ladies in the higher branches of a thorough education, 
having reference to the entire person, physically, intellectually, 
morally and religiously considered, and to be essentially modeled 
after the Mt. Holyoke Seminary, in Massachusetts, founded by 
Mary Lyon, and the Western Female Seminary, at Oxford." 

THE DETROIT MEDICAL COLLEGE. 

The Detroit Medical College is one of the most important insti- 
tutions of the kind in the country. It has been established 
about five years only, but during that time it has secured for itself 
an enviable reputation. 

In estimating the work of this institution, it must be regarded 
not only in its character as an institution of learning, but also in 
that of a public charity. 

Since its establishment, in 1868, one hundred and nineteen stu- 
dents have received the degree of M. D. No one is permitted to 
graduate from this institution who has not fulfilled all the follow- 
ing requirements : 

Evidences are required of having studied medicine during 
a period of three years, and attended at least two courses of 
lectures, of which the last must have been in this institution. 
He must also have attended clinical instruction for one term, have 
dissected every part of the cadaver, and have taken a course of 
analytical chemistry in the laboratory. These are not required 
on graduation, but every candidate for a degree must write two 
essays on subjects assigned to him. These essays will have to be 
defended publicly. Finally, he will be required to pass a satisfac- 
tory written and oral examination in all the fundamental branches 
in medicine and surgery. 

Especial attention is given in this institution to the method 
of clinical teaching which prevails in the medical colleges of 
Germany, and which has hitherto been almost completely neglected 
by those of the United States. The hospitals connected with the 
college supply a large number of cases for this mode of instruc- 
tion; and it is in this that the institution is to be regarded in the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAJN. 



629 



light of a public charity. It has been a source of relief to thou- 
sands of the city and country poor. There have been maintained 
at the expense of the college two dispensaries, at which the poor 
can obtain, daily (except Sundays), medical and surgical relief 




HON. WM. WOODBRIDGE. 

William Woodbridge, the second governor of Michigan, and a man 
thoroLiglily identified with its history for tliirty-five years, was born in 
Norwich, Connecticut, August 20, 1780. 

He received his early education in his native State, studied law in 
Litchfield, in that State, and with his father emigrated to the Northwest 
territory in 1791, settling in Marietta, Ohio. 

In 1806, he was admitted to the bar, in Ohio, and in the following 
year was elected to the assembly of that State. From 1808 until 1814 he 



630 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

free of charge. During the year 1872 there were 1,335 patients 
treated at these dispensaries ; 3,280 prescriptions were prepared and 
dispensed gratuitously ; and over two thousand persons were vac- 
cinated. A large number of surgical operations are performed 
every year, before the class, on hospital and dispensary patients, 

THE DETROIT HOMEOPATHIC COLLEGE. 

This institution was organized in the fall of 1871, and opened 
for the first course of lectures early in March following. At the 
end of the term nineteen were graduated. The whole number 
of students in attendance was thirty-two. 

The second session began November 6th, 1872, and ended the 
last of February, 1873. The attendance of students numbered 
fifty-one, and there were twenty graduates, three of whom were 
ladies. It is a feature of this institution to give to women all its 
privileges. 

was prosecuting attorney of his county and also a member of the Ohio 
State senate. During the latter year, witliout solicitation, he received 
the appointment of secretary of the Territory of Michigan, from Presi- 
dent Madison, and removed to Detroit and entered upon the performance 
of the duties of his new office. He was elected the first delegate to Con- 
gress from Michigan, in 1819, and forwarded the interests of his con- 
stituents in a manner to elicit the warmest approbation. He was 
appointed judge of the supreme court of the Territory in 1828, and 
performed the duties of that office four years. He was one of the mem- 
bers of the convention wliich framed the State constitution in 1835, and 
was elected a State senator under it in 1837. He was chosen to succeed 
Stevens T. Mason as governor of the State in 1839, and served during 
one term. At the expiration of his term of office as governor, he was 
elected a United States senator, and served in that capacity from 1841 
until 1847. While in the senate, he took a leading part in much of the 
important legislation of that body, both as a member of a number of the 
principle committees and also as a debater on the floor of the senate. 

His last days were spent in retirement in Detroit, where he died, 
October 20, 1861. 

Governor Woodbridge was an eminent jurist and constitutional lawyer, 
and at the time of his death, was the oldest and most distinguished mem- 
ber of the Datroit bar. He was a man of true principle and honor, who 
had served the public for many years with fidelity and integrity, and 
who died leaving to his children an unblemished name. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



631 



The third session began October 15th, 1873, with fifty students, 
and more daily coming in. The term is expected to close about 
March 1st, 1874. 

The faculty, or corps of instructors, is complete in all depart- 
ments, and the college is claimed to rank with any similar insti- 
tution in this country. The president of the college, particularly, 
is a gentleman of large experience as a practical physician and as 
an instructor. 




THE DETROIT HOMEOPATHIC COLLEGE. 

The Detroit Homeopathic College was organized with the appro- 
val of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, for 
its becoming a branch of the University, and it is hoped that this 
result will be brought about, and thus the difficulty which has 
attended the attempt to introduce homeopathic professors into the 
allopathic department at Ann Arbor be amicably resolved. This 
is the wish of the greater portion of the profession in the State, 
and seems to meet the wishes of those who have the University in 
chiu-ge. So far, it must be confessed, the enterprise is attended 



632 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

with complete success, and its founders are united in pushing it 
to the front rank of medical colleges. The fees are the same as 
are charged students in the University. Thus, to those who are 
residents of the State, $20 ; to those from other States S35. 

The college building is situated in Detroit, at the corner of 
Woodward avenue and the Campus Martins, and adjoining the 
Opera House. It is very convenient of access, being in the very 
center of the city. 

The following are the officers and faculty of the college : Presi- 
dent, Lancelot Younghusband, M. D., LL. D. ; Treasurer, Thomas 
W. Palmer, Esq. ; Secretary, Erastus R. Ellis, M. D. Faculty — 
L. Younghusband, M. D., LL. D., Emeritus Professor of Theory 
and Practice ; Benjamin F. Bailey, Jr., M. D., Professor of Theory 
and Practice of Medicine ; Charles H. B. Kellogg, M. D., Pro- 
fessor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children ; James 
H. P. Frost, A. M., M. D., Special Lecturer on Psychological Med- 
icine; Erastus R. Ellis, M. D., Professor of Principles and Prac- 
tice of Surgery; Isaiah Dever, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica; 
Francis X. Spranger, M. D., Professor of Pathology, Diagnosis and 
Clinical Practice ; Oscar R. Long, M. D., Professor of Anatomy ; 
John D. Kergan, A. B., M. D., Professor of Physiology ; William 
C. Clemo, M. D., Professor of Chemistry and Botany ; William B. 
Silber, A. M., M. D., Ph. D., Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence. 

The history of the educational institutions of Michigan would 
not be complete without a more than passing notice of the busi- 
ness colleges. These have within a few years grown into consid- 
erable importance, and filling, as they do, a peculiar vacancy in 
the chain of educational agencies in the State, should be regarded 
as constituting a very valuable means of promoting the success 
and prosperity of mankind. The importance of sound- business 
colleges is seen and recognized the world over. The theme of 
actual business practice engages the attention of the best mathe- 
matical minds in the country. It is true that this class of educa- 
tional institutions are yet in their infancy, but it is also true that 
even now their utility is so far recognized by the business com- 
munity that the graduates of these institutions are placed in the 
highest places as accountants in the commercial arena of America. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



638 



Upon this department of education, more than all others, falls 
the labor of teaching the language and import of business and 
commerce, through whose channels all nations and tongues find 
intercourse. 




HON. O. D. CONGER. 

Omar D. Conger was born in Cooperstown, New York, in 1818. His 
fatlier was a clergyman, with whom, in 1824, he removed to Huron 
county, Ohio. He pursued his preparatory studies at Huron Institute, 
Milan, Ohio, and graduated at Western Reserve College in 1842. From 
1845 to 1847 he was employed in the geological survey and mineral 
explorations of the Lake Superior copper and iron regions. Having 
studied law, Mr. Conger, in 1848, engaged in the practice of his profes- 
sion at Port Huron, Michigan, where he has since resided. In 1850, he 
was elected a judge of the St. Clair county court. He was a senator in 
the Michigan legislature for the biennial terms of 1855, 1857 and 1859, 



634 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

GOLDSMITH'S BRYANT & STRATTON UNIVERSITY. 
This institution is located at Detroit, near the post-office, and is 
presided over by Mr. J. H. Goldsmith, a gentleman who has had 
a life-long experience in this department of education. It was 
established in 1857, by the present proprietor, as one of the Bry- 
ant and Stratton chain of colleges, and bore the name of Bryant, 
Stratton and Goldsmith's Business College. It bore this name 
until 1869, when the last named gentleman purchased the interest 
of his partners, and became sole proprietor. It may be proper 
here to remark that upon the death of Mr. Stratton, which 
occurred about this time, a change in the proprietorship of all the 
Bryant and Stratton colleges took place, the resident partner in 
each purchasing the interest of Bryant and Stratton. In order to 
perpetuate the benefits of the chain scholarship, uniformity of text- 
books, etc., the International Business College Association was 
organized, which includes a majority of the Bryant and Stratton 
institutions, as well as a number of other commercial institutions 
in the United States and Canada. Of this association the college 

and in the last term was elected president pro tempore of the senate. In 
1867, he was a member of the constitutional convention of Michigan. 
In 1868, he was elected a representative from Michigan to the Forty-tirst 
Congress as a Republican, receiving 16,347 votes, against 14,623 for Hon. 
Byron G. Stout, the Democratic nominee. In 1870, he was reelected to 
the Forty-second Congress over the same competitor, and in 1872, he was 
elected to the Forty-third Congress by a majority of between four and 
five thousand. 

On taking his seat in the Forty-tirst Congress, Mr. Conger was appointed 
a member of the committee on commerce, and took an active part in 
legislation. He frequently addressed the house, chiefly on subjects 
referred to or reported from the committee on commerce. The propriety 
of his appointment to this committee is evident from the important com- 
mercial interest of his own district, in which it is surpassed by no other 
portion of the Union not on the sea-board, lying as it does immediately 
on the route of the great inland lake trade. 

The following is an extract from a speech delivered by Mr. Conger in 
the house of representatives, June 13, 1870, on the bill for river and har- 
bor appropriations, which aptly illustrates the deep interest he takes in 
the welfare of his district : 

" In closing these remarks, Mr. Speaker, I invoke the attention of this 




GOLDSMITH'S BRYANT & STEATTON BUSINESS COLLEGE. 



()36 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

under consideration became a member ; and it has since pursued 
a career of continual progress, keeping) pace with the most 
advanced principles and theories of business. It has a board of 
trade, college, bank, and mercantile houses of all kinds. In each 
of these all of the formalities of actual business transactions are 
regularly gone through with by the students. The regular weekly 
law lectures are another important feature of this institution. 

MAYHEW BUSINESS COLLEGE. 

This institution, situated on the corner of Congress and Ran- 
dolph streets, Detroit, was established in Albion, in 1860, and 
removed to Detroit in 1869. Its founder, the Hon. Ira Mayhew, 
had had large experience as a teacher, had written valuable works 
on education, had been two years county superintendent of schools 
in New York, and eight years superintendent of public instruc- 
tion in Michigan, and was, therefore, well prepared for the suc- 
cessful management of such an institution. 

Professor Mayhew has devoted his time and energies to the 

house and the country to the great historical fact that appears in all the 
traditions of the human race, shines through every page of history, 
through ever}^ period of human greatness, through the rise and fall of 
emph-es, through all the long successions of national growth and decay, 
that whatever people controlled the commerce of the world controlled 
the world itself ; and this, too, whether their municipal power extended 
over vast realms of sea and land, or was confined to a single city or cir- 
cumscribed island. 

"To our legislation, in part, is committed the duty of realizing the 
lessons of history, and asserting the supremacy of our national com- 
merce. 

"Athough the task is difficult, the consummation will be glorious. 
Over what a world of waters do our laws extend! For what vast high- 
ways of commerce within our own borders must we legislate! 

"From the Kennebunk to the Rio Grande, along the thousand miles of 
coast line we front the Atlantic and woo the traffic of the East. From 
San Diego to Behring's Sti-aits we welcome across the calm Pacific ' the 
treasures of Cathay and farthest Inde!' 

" Between the two oceans what magnificent inland seas! What vast 
interlacing rivers! on which ten thousand vessels are wafted by the winds 
of heaven, or driven by the energy of steam, as they bear onward the 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 637 

establishment of a superior business college, worthy of his reputa- 
tion as a teacher, an author, and a school oflBcer. Early in the 
late war his partner entered the army, and remained until its 
close. Prof Mayhew, during this time, conducted his business 
college, and for three years officiated as collector of internal reve- 
nue for the third district of Michigan, in which he at that time 
resided. With several years of experience in conducting a busi- 
ness college, in which his practical book-keeping, first published 
in 1851, was used as a text-book, he found it desirable to employ 
a fuller and more complete treatise. This led to the preparation 
of Mayhew's University Book-keeping, which was published in 
1868, and which is regarded as a very superior work. A most 
valuable business practice, employing money and business papers 
in the great number and variety required for reducing to actual 
practice the sets of Mayhew's University Book-keeping, was soon 
prepared, which added greatly to its efficiency as a text-book for 
business colleges. Institutions using it became strongly attached 
to it, and urged upon its author the formation of an association to 
be known as the Mayhew Business College Association. 

accumulated wealth and vast commerce of modem civilization; where 
these are wanting, through the great forests, across the prairies, and over 
the mountain ranges, the iron track and the tireless engine must supply 
the necessities of travel and compensate the lack of navigation, and 
furnish to all these vast regions of our country the modern highways 
which human genius has devised to supplement the deficiencies of nature 
and equalize the conditions of locality." 

In the Forty-second Congress, Mr. Conger was again assigned a posi- 
tion on the committee on commerce of the house, and frequently addressed 
that body on the important questions brought before it for legislation. 

In the Forty-third Congress, Mr. Conger is third on the committee on 
commerce, and chairman of the committee on patents, and is acknowl- 
edged to be one of the ablest representatives from his State. 

On the 4th of July, 1871, Mr. Conger delivered an oration in Port 
Huron, from which we give a few extracts, both as illustrating his popu- 
lar style of eloquence, and as giving an interesting view of the commercial 
importance of his district: 

" What thronging memories of the past crowd upon us to-day. The 
scenery around us is all eloquent of our national growth. On the very 
spot where we now stand was planted the first settlement of white men 



638 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

This was accordingly done, and the institution, and its patrons, 
now enjoy whatever of advantage there is to be derived from the 
cooperation of first-class institutions, situated in different parts of 
the country. 

Students in this institution receive a thorough course of instruc- 
tion, beginning with the rudimentary principles of business and 
of keeping accounts, after which they are instructed in the differ- 
ent forms of accounts, business correspondence, commercial papers, 
commercial calculations, the philosophy and morals of business, 
and in relation to the organization and management of the differ- 
ent kinds of banks. After this preliminary training has been 
gone through with, instruction is given in double-entry book- 
keeping, and in the manner of opening and closing of books. 
A number of carefully graded sets of examples for practice are 
worked by the student, each set embracing a large number and 
variety of transactions. The elements of commercial law receive 
proper attention throughout the course. 

on the lower peninsula of Michigan. Before the Griffin floated on these 
waters — before Detroit was discovered or settled — the gallant Du Lhut, 
with his coureurs des hois, had traversed the eastern shore of Lake Huron 
from the Ottawa route, and crossing from the low point that guards the 
foot of Lake Huron, which was then an island, he erected on this mound 
Fort St. .Joseph, and for more than two years held encampment near 
where we stand, with the beautiful St. Clair before him, the River Dulude 
(named after him, as you find it in the older maps) in his rear, and Lake 
Huron sleeping in solitary grandeur Avithin the range of his vision. 

" To the adventurous Frenchman and his baud of military hunters, and 
to his companion, the learned and devoted priest, who shared his perils 
and recorded his discoveries, all around was the grandeur of solitude, 
the mysterious voices of the unexplored wilderness, and the flood of 
waters rushing to an unknown bourne. Then they were the only Chris- 
tain inhabitants of Michigan. To-day we number a million and a quarter 
of souls. Then his few frail boats were all that dotted the face of the 
lake or river. To-day the rushing of steam, the splashing wheels, the 
white-winged vessels, the car-laden barge, the graceful yacht, all the 
living, moving panorama of water life, spreads before you, awakening 
the delightful consciousness of the prosperity and glory of our beloved 
land, and gratifying your taste with glimpses of scenery unsurpassed in 
its quiet beauty and loveliness in any land under the sun." 



filSTORY OF MIcaiGAN. 639 

This doses our review of the educational institutions of Michi- 
gan. The public schools of the State are free to all pupils within 
the limits of the district, so that poverty is no bar to the acquire- 
ment of a good common school education. Within the last few 
years a system of compulsory education has been adopted, making 
it obligatory upon every one having the control or custody of 
children, between the ages of eight and fourteen years, to send 
them to school for a period of at least twelve weeks in each school 
year, six weeks of which, at least, shall be consecutive. 

Thus we have seen that Michigan, within a period of a little 
over thirty-five years, has established a system of education unex- 
celled in any of the States, old or new. No people have ever 
been more prompt to take advantage of the educational facilities 
offered them than have the people of Michigan. The utmost 
liberality has been manifested by them in everything that pertains 
to their educational interests ; and the good results are every- 
where manifest in the superior intelligence and virtue of tlie rising 
generation. 



CHAPTER XXXVIIL 



Agriculture — Majsjufactures — Commerce. 

In regard to the agricultural productions of Michigan, it has 
already been remarked that no State in the Union produces a 
greater variety of crops, and few, if any, produce a greater aver- 
age yield per acre of the more important cereals. Of the other 
western States each one is remarkable for the production of some 
one or two crops, whilst its soil is unadapted to the growth of any 
other in profitable quantities. But Michigan produces in great 
abundance all crops belonging to its latitude. The quality of 
nearly all agricultural productions of this State will compare 
favorably with those of any other State in the Union. Its wheat 
is sought after in all the markets of the east, and the highest 
price is paid for it. The average yield per acre is greater than 
in a majority of the States, and in some years outranks, in this 
respect, every western State east of the Rocky mountains. For 
the purpose of comparison, the four States immediately surround- 
ing Michigan will be taken, viz : Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and 
Wisconsin, 

In 1870 the average yield per acre of the principal crops,_in the 
five States named, was as follows : Wheat, bushels — Ohio, 13.8 ; 
Indiana, 11.0 ; Illinois, 12.0; Wisconsin, 13.4; Michigan, 14.0. 
Rye — Ohio, 13.8 ; Indiana, 13.7 ; Illinois, 16.4 ; Wisconsin, 13.6 ; 
Michigan, 18.2. Oats— Ohio, 31.1 ; Indiana, 28.1 ; Illinois, 26.0; 
Wisconsin, 27.9 ; Michigan, 35.3. Barley — Ohio, 2.35 ; Indiana, 
24.1; Illinois, 20.0; Wisconsin, 26.5; Michigan, 25.0. Buck- 
wheat—Ohio, 16.3; Indiana, 19.2 ; Illinois, 18.8; Wisconsin, 20.1; 
Michigan, 17.3. Potatoes — Ohio, 72; Indiana, 45 ; Illinois, 81 ; 
AVisconsin, 57; Michigan, 95. Tobacco, pounds — Ohio, 916; 
Indiana, 850 ; Illinois, 840j Wisconsin, 900 ; Michigan, 950. 
Hay, tons — Ohio, 1.31 ; Indiana, 1.27 ; Illinois, 1.18; Wisconsin, 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



641 



1.34; Michigan, 1.36. Indian corn, bushels — Ohio, 39.0; Indiana, 
39.5 ; Illinois, 35.2 ; Wisconsin, 38.0 ; Michigan, 37.0. Thus it will 
be seen that of the five States named, none of them outrank Michi- 
gan in the average production of any crops, save those of Indian 




HON. ISRAEL V. HARRIS. 

The subject of this sketch is a descendant of one of the oldest and 
best known families in Dutchess county, New York. 

He was born at Pine Plains, in that county, April 2d, 1815; received 
an academic education, and, until his removal to Michigan in 1836, was 
engaged in farming. His early associates conceded him a prominence, 
as was evinced by their election of him as first lieutenant in the militia 
company in which he was enrolled in his eighteenth year; in the suc- 
ceeding year electing him captain, and as such he was commissioned by 
Governor Marcy, and the title has ever since been attached to him. 

In December, 1836, he came to Michigan, and remained in Detroit some 
three months, from whence he made his way on foot to Grand Rapids, 
41 



642 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

corn, buckwheat and barley. Of the other six crops, viz : wheat, 
rye, oats, potatoes, tobacco and hay, Michigan stands ahead. It 
will be seen that we have taken for the purpose of comparison 
with Michigan, four of the best agricultural States in the Union. 
The above figures, and those which follow, are taken from the 
census reports for 1870. 

In 1850 the total number of acres of land in farms in this State 
was 1,929,110. Twenty years later the number was swelled to 
10,019,1-12. More than fifty per cent of this land is under culti- 
vation. The total valuation of the farm lands in the State is 
$398,240,578 ; of farming implements and machinery $13,711,979. 
The value of all farm productions, including betterments and 
additions to stock, for the same year was $81,508,623. Animals 
slaughtered, and sold for slaughter, $11,711,624. Home manu- 
factures, $338,008. Forest products, $2,559,682. ^Market-garden 
products, $352,658. Orchard products, $3,447,985. Wages paid 
during the year, including the value of board, $8,421,161. There 
were raised during the year, of spring wheat, 268,810 bushels; 
winter wheat, 15,996,963; rye, 144,508; corn, 14,086,238; oats, 

in February, 1837, and soon located about eight miles west from there on 
Sand Creek, at a place now named in honor of him "Victor's Mills." 
He was mainly instrumental in having the town organized, and named 
"Tallmudge" The same year he was joined by his brother Silas G., 
and they began as merchants in Grand Rapids, and w^re immediately 
recognized as among the leading men of the city. 

They were both ardent Democrats, and there are thousands who will 
remember the terse logic, the absolute command of language, and the 
graceful oratory of Silas G. Harris. He was elected speaker of the House 
of Representatives in this State, in 1850, and was recognized by all as an 
impartial, prompt and efficient officer. 

In 1848 Captain Harris and Silas were joined by their brother Myron, 
and the succeeding year they built a mill on Sand Creek and commenced 
lumbering, which, in connection with large operations in real estate, has 
since been their business. 

For six years in succession Captain Harris was supervisor of the town 
of Tallmudge, and in 1853 he was elected to the State Senate in the dis- 
trict, comprising some twenty-three counties, eml)raciug Ottawa and 
those lying north to Mackinac. His opponent in the senatorial contest 
was Senator Thomas W. Ferry. In a subsequent contest Senator Ferry 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 643 

8,954,466; barley, 834,558; buckwheat, 436,755. Of horses 
there were 253,670, of ^which number 228,302 were on farms. 
Of fibrous productions there were raised, of flax, 240,110 pounds; 
of wool, 8,726,145 pounds. The other farm productions for the 
same year were as follows : Hay, 1,290,923 tons ; hops, 828,269 
pounds; tobacco, 5,385 pounds; sugar, 1,781,855 pounds ; sorghum 
molasses, 94,686 gallons ; maple molasses, 23,627 gallons ; Irish 
potatoes, 10,318,799 bushels ; sweet potatoes, 3,651 bushels ; peas 
and beans, 349,365 bushels; beeswax, 14,571 pounds; honey, 
280,325 pounds; domestic wine, 21,832 gallons; clover seed, 
49,918 bushels ; flax seed, 5,528 bushels ; grass seed, 2,590 bush- 
els. The value of all live stock in the State, at that time, was 
given as follows: Total value, $49,809,869; horses, $228,302; 
mules and asses, $2,353 ; milch cows, $250,859 ; working oxen, 
$36,499 ; other cattle, $260,171 ; sheep, $1,985,906 ; swine, $417,- 
811. Dairy products — butter, 24,400,185 pounds ; cheese, 670,804 
pounds ; milk sold, 2,277,122 gallons. 

MANUFACTURES. 

The census reports for 1870 give the following summary of the 
principal manufacturing interests of Michigan : 

defeated liim. The captain lias ever since held a prominent position as a 
leader in the Democratic party of the State. He has been one of the 
State central committee, but has declined to be a candidate for office. 

He is a modest and unobtrusive gentleman, watchful of events, and 
whose intelligence and social qualities make liim not only a genial, but 
an instructive companion. 

In planning railroad enterprises and improvements for the benefit of 
Grand Haven, where he is largely interested, his sound judgment and 
practical business tact have placed him in the front rank of the business 
men of that city. 

Coming to Michigan at a time when — 

" The rudiments of empire here 
Were plastic yet, and warm," 
his intellect, his integrity, and knowledge of the wants of the country, 
have been widely felt in perfecting those organizations for the conduct 
of public affairs which make a wilderness secure and preserve order in 
society. He now lives at Grand Haven, environed by the respect and 
cordial regard of those among whom his days have been passed almost 
from boyhood to the vigor of his prime. 



644 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

For the manufacture of agricultural implements there were 164 
establishments, employing 969 hands, $1,254,759 of capital, pay- 
ing $362,844 for wages, consuming $714,933 worth of material, 
and producing the value of $1,569,596. Boots and shoes — estab- 
lishments 81, hands 830, wages $372,844, material $587,104, capi- 
tal 578,172, product $1,249,130. Bread, and other bakery pro- 
ducts — establishments 82, hands 306, wages $95,251, material 
$459,716, capital $291,672, products $684,458. Brick— establish- 
ments 136, hands 1,584, wages $275,331, material $128,665, capi- 
tal $438,800, products $681,480. Carriages and wagons — estab- 
lishments 531, hands 2,239, wages $761,764, material $862,903, 
capital $1,649,860, products $2,893,328. Cars, freight and passen- 
ger — establishments 3, hands 823, wages $496,058, material 
$687,282, capital $615,223, products $1,488,742. Clothing — 
establishments 288, hands 2,593, wages $606,881, material $1,444,- 
826, capital $1,085,650, products $2,577,154. Confectionery— 
establishments 14, hands 89, wages $30,794, material $179,769, 
capital $57,400, products $261,179. Cooperage — establishments 
291, hands 1,139, wages $325,096, material $530,706, capital 
$438,165, products $1,176,768. Copper, milled and smelted — 
establishments 19, hands 636, wages $350,909, material $8,499,- 
496, capital $1,591,000, products $9,260,976. Flouring mill pro- 
ducts — establishments 305, hands 1,389, capital $5,369,700, wages 
$519,848, material, $14,882,834, products $17,633,158. Furniture 
— establishments 246, hands 2,365, capital $2,067,620, wages 
$660,179, material $679,612, products $1,954,688. Iron, forged 
and rolled — establishments 3, hands 465, capital $725,000, wages 
$239, 164, material $446,000, products $780,750. Iron, pigs— estab- 
lishments 17, hands 1,625, capital $2,528,000, wages $844,259, 
material $1,651,102, products, $2,911,515. Iron, castings, not 
specified — establishments 196, hands 1,101, capital $1,571,447, 
wages $519,433, material $1,077,021, products $2,082,532. Lea- 
ther, tanned — establishments 99, hands 479, capital $S97,047, 
wages $192,150, material $1,167,876, products $1,606,311. 
Leather, curried — establishments 78, hands 249, capital $395,493, 
wages $87,799, material $833,380, products $1,064,297. Liquors, 
malt — establishments 128, hands 481, capital $1,327,441, wages 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



645 



$162,768, material $598,828, products $1,216,286. Looking- 
glasses and picture frames — establishments 9, hands 330, capital 
$97,125, wages $90,989, material $111,085, products $281,050. 
Lumber, planed — establishments 58, hands 488, capital $659,650, 




HON. DAVID H. JEROME. 

David Howell Jerome was born November 17th, 1829, at Detroit. 
His father dying soon after his birth his mother removed to and lived 
in Central New York until 1834. when she settled in St. Clair county. 
David H. continued to reside here until 1854. The last year, however, 
of this period he spent in California, and while there located the claim 
for the "Live Yankee Tunnel and Mine" at Forest City, which has 
since proved to be wortii millions of dollars. He projected the tunnel 
and constructed it for 600 feet into the mountain towards the mine. 

In 1854 he settled in Baginaw City, and in the following year engaged 
in trade as a merchant, commencing in general merchandise, and after- 
wards changing to hardware. He is still in this business as the senior 



646 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

wages $192,157, material $710,105, products $1,085,860. Lum- 
ber, sawed — establishments 1,180, hands 18,817, capital $26,086,- 
445, wages $6,274,374, material $14,045,223, products $31,078,167. 
Machinery, not specified — establishments 63, hands 685, capital 
$808,666, wages $371,965, material $687,740, products $1,355,371. 
Machinery, steam engines and boilers — establishments 31, hands 
412, capital $476,743, wages $211,076, material $369,913, pro- 
ducts $723,704. Meat, packed, pork — establishments 4, hands 33, 
capital $170,000, wages $12,050, material $493,033, products 
$533,750. Millinery — establishments 114, hands 409, capital 
$132,700, wages $49,555, material $197,542, products $332,371. 
Monuments and tomb-stones — establishments 50, hands 242, capi- 
tal $176,175, wages $82,966, material $112,603, products $291,782. 
Paper, printing — establishments 4, hands 170, capital $215,000, 
wages $50,900, material $257,580, products $384,679. Plaster, 
ground — establishments 22, hands 240, capital $687,100, wages 

partner in the firm of D. H. Jerome & Co., who have one of the largest 
hardware establishments in the Saginaw Valley. He has conducted his 
business on sound principles, and has amassed a handsome fortune. 

In 1863 he was authorized by Governor Blair to raise the regiment 
apportioned to the Sixth Congressional District, and was commissioned 
Commandant of Camp with the ranii of Colonel, to prepare the regiment 
for the field. This regiment — the Twenty-third — was placed in camp on 
the east side of Saginaw river for such preparation. It afterwards made 
a splendid record in the service. 

During 1865-6 Colonel Jerome was military aid to Governor Crapo, 
and in 1865 he was also appointed a member of the State Military Board, 
of which he continued a member, and president, until the present year. 

In 1863 he was elected to the State senate ; he was reelected in 1864, 
and again in 1856, serving six consecutive years in that branch of the 
legislature. In that body he was prominent in the debate in opposition 
to the legislation avithorizing municipal aid to railroads, and after the 
batch of such measures had gone through both houses, he freely sup- 
ported Governor Crapo's veto and the policy it recommended. 

During his entire senatorial services he was chairman of the committee 
on State aflFairs as well as a member of other important committees. As 
such chairman he had much to do in shaping the policy of all the 
important legislation made necessary by the war. Among other prom- 
inent and humane measures Mr. Jerome brought forward and was instru- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 647 

$9S7,702, material $160,391, products $333,600. Printing aud 
publishing — establishments 65, hands 726, capital $697,777, ^vages 
$393,999, material $302,104, products $1,071,523. Saddlery and 
harness — establishments 288, hands 824, capital $460,436, wages 
$194,497, material $413,6.>7, products $851,388. Salt— establish- 
ments 65, hands 858, capital $1,717,500, wages $331,239, material 
$410,561, products $1,176,811. Sash, doors and blinds — estab- 
lishments 150, hands 1,305, capital $1,279,200, wages $564,959, 
material $835,852, products, $1,868,596. Ship-building, repairing 
and materials — establishments 26, hands 637, capital $547,000, 
wages, $233,031, material $271,064, products $709,384. Tin, cop- 
per aud sheet-iron ware — establishments 260, hands 835, capital 
$487,515, wages $256,595, material $437,998, products $967,972. 
Tobacco and cigars — establishments 6, hands 205, capital, $228,500, 
wages $67,105, material $445,660, products $717,640. ;; Tobacco, 
chewing, smoking and snuff — establishments 9, hands 470, capital 

mental in procuring the passage of the bill creating the Soldiers' Home at 
Harper Hospital in Detroit. 

It was largely due to his influence that tlie proceeds of the swamp 
lands have been so largely saved to assist local improvements in the new 
counties. His whole legislative career was characterized by a faithful 
devotion to the interests of the State and of his constituents, as well as by 
intelligent industry, practical wisdom, and unquestioned integrity. He 
never traded votes with his associates for the purpose of getting aid on 
his local bills, but treated all bills alike and left his own to be considered 
on their merits. The expediency of this manly course was emphatically 
illustrated in his experience. At the same .session in which the bills for 
municipal aid to railroads and other like enterprises were vetoed by the 
Governor, a bill came before the senate for such aid for a plank road 
leading to Senator Jerome's place of residence. His action on that bill 
was looked for with curious interest. After it had been vetoed and 
I'econsidered, he arose in the senate and frankly stated his interest in the 
road and his conviction that that particular bill was right. He expressed 
himself with such felicity, and defined his position with such consum- 
mate address, that the bill was carried over the veto by twenty-two of 
the twenty-eight senators present voting for it. 

His splendid qualifications as a legislator so usefully and honorably 
exercised in the senate doubtless led to his appointment as one of the 
commissioners, in 1873, to prepare a new State constitution. In this 



648 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

$847,500, wages $160,250, material $697,904, products $1,131,743. 
Tobacco, cigars— establishments 99, hands 581, capital $225,202, 
wages $214,575, material $304,741, products $723,140. Wooden 
ware — establishments 17, hands 227, capital $324,200, wages 
$69,774, material $87,795, products $257,710. Wood, turned and 
carved — establishments 43, hands 282, capital $206,825, wages 
$85,262, material $92,703, products $309,590. Woollen goods- 
establishments 38, hands 585, capital $858,200, wages $174,872, 
material $530,064, products $996,203. 

This must not be understood to include all the manufacturing 
industries of the State. Only the principal ones are included, 
and of the industries here specified those establishments produc- 
ing less than the value of $500 per year are left out. If all were 
included it would swell the amount enormously. In another 
table the grand totals for Michigan are given as follows : 

Manufacturing establishments 9,455 ; steam engines employed, 

body, which has just concluded its labors, he was chairman of the com- 
mittee on finance. He took a leading part in the debates and consult- 
ations on all the important questions that the commission had to deal 
with, and a prevailing influence in moulding many of the new provisions. 
While he opposed unfettered monopoly, he steadily fought against the 
insertion in the organic law of restrictions that were dictated by mere 
hostility to railroad and other corporations. He intelligently insisted 
that they were indispensable in the conduct of the business of the country, 
and they should not be crippled in the exercise of their proper func- 
tions; that it is safer and wiser to leave it to the legislature to correct 
abuses as they arise. 

Mr. Jerome is a man of great force of character, careful and deliberate 
in the formation of his opinion, but steadfast in them when formed, and 
persevering in carrying them out in practice. He is kind and genial in 
his social nature, and well calculated to exercise a powerful and general 
influence over the popular mind. He is every day the same bland and 
cultivated gentlemen. He is ever keenly alive to every scheme aiming at 
the moral, intellectual and material advancement of his fellows, and ever 
ready with labor and money to cooperate. He deserves and enjoys the 
distinction of being a pleasant, social gentleman, a model business man, 
a public spirited and exemplary citizen, and a statesman of fair stature, 
who displays in his public capacity all the virtues that adorn and beautify 
his daily life. J. G. S. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



649 



2,215, having a total horse-power of 70,956; water-wheels 
employed 1,500, having a total horse-power of 34,895; hands 
63,694, of whom 58,347 are males above 16 years of age, 2,941 
are females above the age of 15, and 2,406 youth ; aggregate capi- 




GEORGE WILLARD. 

George Willaud was born in Bolton, Vermont, March 20, 1824, and 
emigrated with his parents to Michigan in 1836, and settled in Battle 
Creek, where he now resides. In 1856 he was elected a member of 
the State board of education, and occupied the position for six yews. 
He has also been for the last ten years a I'egent of the University, and dur- 
ing that time has held the chairmanship of the committee in the classical 
department. Upon the board of regents, he strenuously advocated the 
admission of women into the University, and introduced the resolution 
for that measure, which was finally adopted. 

Mr. Willard was a member of the Michigan house of representatives 
in 1867, and also of the coustitutional convention in the same year, serv- 



G50 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

tal employed $71,712,283; wages, $21,205,355; materials, $68,- 
142,515; products, $118,394,676. 

COMMERCE. 

There can be no question of the immense superiority of the 
commercial advantages possessed by Michigan over those of any 
other State in the Union. Her natural harbors are numerous, 
and so favorably located as to require but little expense or labor 
to make them available for all classes of shipping. Her coast 
line is longer than that of any other State, it being not less than 
one thousand four hundred miles in length, and her shores are 
washed by the waters of navigable lakes whose combined area is 
eighty-four thousand square miles. With these great inland seas 
almost surrounding her, with her numberless water-courses flow- 
ing through her gigantic forests of pine, and emptying at con- 
venient distances into the great highways of commerce, with her 
long lines of railroad traversing the State in every direction, she 
enjoys advantages which many an empire might envy, and which 
few nations of the world possess. 

On the twentieth day of May, 1819, a little over fifty years ago, 
the steamer Walk-in-the-Water landed at Detroit. This was the 
first steamboat that made its appearance on the lakes. She was 
commanded by Captain Jedediah Rogers, and occupied a whole 
week in making the trip to Black Rock. Two years later, this 
celebrated pioneer steamer was wrecked near Bufl^alo. Other 
steamers and numerous sailing vessels soon followed, each year 
increasing the number and improving the quality of each kind, 
until 1855, which was about the culminating period of passenger 
traffic on the lakes. At that time there were from eight to ten 
departures of passenger steamers daily from Detroit to the ports 
on Lake Erie alone. Since that time the railroads have absorbed 
most of the passenger traffic ; but the number of freight vessels 

ing in both bodies as chairman of the committee on education, and in 
1872, was elected to Congress from the Third Congressional District. He 
is editor and publisher of the Battle Creek Journal, a daily and weekly 
newspaper, and was a delegate at large from this State to the last Kepubli- 
can national convention. 



652 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

of all kinds has increased with wonderful rapidity. It is esti- 
mated that the tonnage on the lakes is, and has been for a number 
of years, increasing at the rate of twenty per cent each year. And 
yet it no more than keeps pace with the growth of the State and 
the great Northwest. Each year produces an increase in the size 
and an improvement in the character of the vessels built. 

In this connection it is proper to mention the fact that within 
the last few years a change has been gradually taking place in 
the character of the freight vessels, and the mode of freight 
transportation on the lakes. Up to 1864 or 1865, the only method 
of transporting freight by water was by the common, well known 
steamers, propellers, and sailing vessels. At that time what may 
justly be called a new era was inaugurated by the building of 
steam barges. These for a time were run independently, and used 
for the transportation of lumber. In process of time the steam 
barges began to be utilized for towing other barges laden with lum- 
ber. This at once lessened the cost of building freight trans- 
ports, decreased the amount of help necessary to man them, and 
increased the carrying capacity of the bottoms by dispensing with 
masts and machinery. This method, as intimated, was first used 
in the lumber trade, but gradually extended to other freights, and 
present indications seem to point to a total revolution in the 
carrying trade of the lakes. The accompanying engraving repre- 
sents one of the finest of the steam barges here spoken of. A 
glance will show how admirably this model is adapted to the end 
in view. In addition to the great amount of freight capacity, 
both in the hold and on deck, this class of vessels is provided with 
machinery capable of towing from four to ten common barges, 
whose aggregate carrying capacity amounts to millions of feet of 
lumber. 

Common usage has given these vessels the name of " barges" — 
a name which, applied to this class of vessels, would convey an 
erroneous impression to the general reader, inasmuch as it is com- 
monly used to designate an inferior order of freight transports. 
A glance at the engraving will show that in point of beauty of 
model, they are not inferior to the finest specimens of marine 
architecture. They are as substantially built as the best propel- 



fiiSTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



653 



lers, and their machinery is inferior to none. Properly speaking, 
the name of propeller should be applied to them. These facts are 
mentioned, and this engraving is presented, for the reason that the 
class of vessels which is thus represented is destined to revolu- 
tionize the carrying trade of the great lakes. 




HON. O. M. BARNES. 

Orlando M. Barnes, of Mason, Michigan, was born in Ira, Cayuga 
county. New York, November 21, 1824. 

Mr. Barnes is a descendant from the Puritans of New England, his 
ancestors having been among the early settlers of Plymouth colony, 
Massachusetts. 

In 1837, his father and family emigrated to Michigan, and settled in 
Aiirelius, Ingham county. The settlement of this county had just com- 
menced at that time, and this family were among the pioneer settlers of 
Aurelius township. 

Mr. Barnes received a thorough education, graduating from the Michi- 



654 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

In 1859 the total number of vessels navigating the waters oi 
the great lakes, all of which paid tribute to Michigan, was over 
sixteen hundred, with an aggregate carrying capacity of about 
14,000 tons. 

In 1873 the carrying capacity of the vessels belonging to 
Detroit alone amounted in the aggregate to 129,180 tons. 

Reduced to tabular form, the carrying capacity of Michigan 
vessels stands thus : 

Number of steam craft in Detroit 106 

Number of sail craft, including barges, in Detroit 139 

Total in Detroit ,. 245 

Number of steam craft owned in other towns in Michigan .... 69 
Number of sail craft owned in other towns in Michigan, includ- 
ing barges 151 

Total in Michigan outside of Detroit 210 

Aggregate number in Michigan 455 

Carrying capacity of steam craft in Detroit, in tons. . ().8,886 
Carrying capacity of sail craft in Detroit, including 

barges 05 , 294 

Total in Detroit 129,180 

Carrying capacity of steam craft in State outside of 

Detroit 15 , 388 

Carrying capacity of sail craft in the State outside of 

Detroit, including barges 44,063 

Total in State outside of Detroit 59,451 

Aggregate carrying capacity of Michigan vessels 188,631 

gan University with the class of 1850, and receiving the degree of master 
of arts from that institution four years later. 

Having selected the law for his profession, he began its study, and 
after devoting himself diligently to it through a regular course of instruc- 
tion, he was admitted to the bar in 1851. 

In the following year, he married Miss Amanda W. Fleming, of Albion, 
Michigan. 

The first years of Mr. Barnes' professional practice were attended with 
more than ordinary success. He was made prosecuting attorney of his 
county, and held the position during the first five years he was a mem- 
ber of the bar. 

Retiring from this office, his abilities were given a wider field of opera- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 655 

Total capacity of steam vessels of the State including 

Detroit 79 , 275 

Total capacity of sail vessels of the State including 

Detroit 109 , 35G 

Aggegate, as above stated 188,681 

Value of steam vessels in State outside of Detroit, |1, 063, 020 
Value of sail vessels in the State outside of Detroit 1,248,240 

Total in the State outside of Detroit $2,311 ,260 

Value of steam vessels in Detroit $3,818,500 

Value of sail vessels in Detroit 2,539,600 

Total in Detroit 6,358,100 

Aggregate value of vessel property in Michigan $8 , 669 , 360 

It is proper to state that the number of vessels here represented 
is taken from the register of the board of underwriters, and rep- 
resents only those that are insurable under the strict rules of that 
board. There are hundreds of others that ply the waters of our 
lakes and rivers, that are not included in this estimate, whose 
aggregate tonnage would swell these figures largely, and whose 
trade forms no insignificant item in the commerce of the State. 

tions, and they with his untiring energy and devotion to business soon 
gained him a position among the first lawyers in the interior of the State. 

In the fall of 1863, he was elected a member of the State legislature, 
and took a prominent part in the proceedings of that body during its 
sessions in 1863-4. 

Shortly after his service in the State legislature, he, in a great measure, 
withdrew from his legal practice, devoting himself more particularly to his 
railroad enterprises. Mr. Barnes has been connected with the Jackson, 
Lansing and Saginaw Railroad since its organization, and to his ability, 
energy and perseverance, the success of this important measure is to a 
great degree attributable. He has been the secretary and attorney of this 
company since its commencement, and is now also its land commis- 
sioner. Mr. Barnes has proven himself an able railroad man, showing a 
keen foresight and clear judgment upon all questions connected with the 
building and running of a first class railroad in these days of close com- 
petition. 

In his business and social relations, he has made many warm friends 
throughout the State and country, and it can safely be said that but few 
men are held in such universal esteem at their homes as he is in Mason, 
the place of his residence. 



656 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

In this connection it may not be uninteresting to note the 
amount of commerce that passed through the Detroit river in 
1872. The following figures are made from information derived 
from the custom houses and boards of trade at Chicago, Milwau- 
kee, Detroit, Toledo, Sandusky, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo, Tona- 
wanda, and Welland Canal, and for which we acknowledge our 
indebtedness to the courtesy of George W. Bissell, Esq., of the 
Detroit Board of Trade : 

Tonnage of Freight through Detroit En^^R in 1872. 

TONS. 

Lumber, 971,977,849 feet, which reduced to tons amounts to. . 1,943,954 

Coal 1 , 1 09 , 196 

Grain, 75,146,507 busliels, equals 2,028,857 

Flour, 800,034 barrels, equals 86,403 

Iron ore, scrap, pig and railroad iron 985,621 

Salt, 616,000 baiTels, equals 92,400 

Staves 108,693 

Received at Detroit from small vessels 373,468 

General merchandise 876,789 

Entered and Cleared at Detroit, not before included. 

Vessels of 150 tons, and under 328,717 

Vessels over 150 tons 1,182,472 

Total tons 9,116,570 

Carrying Capacity of the Lake Marine. 

NUMBER. TONS. 

Sail vessels 1 ,542 423,655 

Steam vessels 529 171 ,079 

New vessels, steam and sail 134 167,500 

Totals 2,205 762,234 

Whole estimated value ^50,000,000 

It will be seen by comparing the above figures with those we 
have given for the State, that over seventeen per cent, in value, 
of the lake shipping is owned in Michigan ; and that the car- 
rying capacity of the vessels of Michigan amounts to over twenty- 
five per cent, or more than one-fourth, of the whole tonnage of 
the lakes. The apparent discrepancy between the two per cent- 
ages is accounted for by the fact that the lumber barges heretofore 



ttrsTORY OF MICHIGAN. 657 

alluded to, possess a much gi-eater carrying capacity, in proportion 
to their cost, than other vessels. As most of these barges are 
owned in Michigan the apparent discrepancy will be readily 
understood. 

It will be seen by the foregoing that the commerce of the lakes 
increases enormously from year to year, notwithstanding the num- 
ber of railroads that spau the continent and traverse the State in 
all directions. This wonderful growth of the lake marine, how- 
ever, no more than keeps pace with the demands of trade in the 
great Northwest. Nor is there any prospect in the near future of 
any diminution in the rate of increase. The time is not far dis- 
tant when the loading of ships at our wharves with merchandise 
for Liverpool will be the rule instead of the exception. Quite a 
large direct trade with Europe has already been established ; but 
with the building of canals now in contemplation, or the enlarge- 
ment of those now in existence, that trade will swell to enormous 

proportions. 

42 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



Mineral Springs op Michigan — Their Discovery — Analyses op the 
Waters — The Location of Each — The St Louis Spring — 
Alpena — Midland — Eaton Rapids — Spring LAitE — Lansing — 

FrUITPORT — BuTTERWORTH'S — OWOSSO — HUBBARDSTON — LESLIE — 

Mount Clemens. 

Within the last four or five years Michigan has acquired a 
national reputation as a watering ])lace and a resort for invalids. 
This is owing to the discovery that the water flowing from arte- 
sian wells in various parts of the State is highly charged with 
various minerals that are recognized by physicians as valuable in 
the treatment of disease. 

The first discovery of this kind was made at St. Louis, Gratiot 
county, in the summer of 1869. In that year a company began 
boring for salt water. At the depth of 200 feet a vein of water 
was struck which spouted up to the height of twenty-four feet 
above the surface. The tube was three and a half inches in 
diameter, and it delivered 300 gallons of water per minute. The 
water was beautifully clear and cold, and to the taste was barely 
perceptibly alkaline. It was not saline, and was therefore aban- 
doned for manufacturing purposes. An accident finally revealed 
the fact that pieces of iron or steel held in the water a few min- 
utes became charged with magnetism. This led to further experi- 
ments, resulting in the discovery that the water possessed medical 
properties invaluable in the treatment of various forms of disease. 
An analysis of the waters was made by Prof. DufReld, which con- 
firmed the opinion as to their value, and the wells soon became a 
resort for hundreds of the afflicted. This led to further searches 
in different parts of the State, and the result is that nearly a hun- 
dred wells of water have been found to possess (as their friends 
claim) magnetic properties. Upwards of twenty of these have 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 



659 



been advertised as containing mineral qualities, and those that 
have been analyzed show the statement to be correct. It is proper 
to state in this connection that the question in regard to the 
magnetic properties claimed for these springs is still an open one. 




HON. A. C. BALDWIN. 

Augustus C. Baldwin was born at Salina, in the State of New York, 
December 24, 1817. 

When but five years of age, he lost his^ father by death, and was 
thrown upon his own resources for support. By unremitting industry, 
he gained a comfortable livelihood, and acquired a thorough English 
education. 

In 1837, he settled in Oakland county, Michigan, where he studied 
law, and was admitted to the bar in 1842. He began the practice of his 
profession at Milford, but soon removed to Pontiac, Oakland county, 
where he has since resided, and where he is still in regular practice. 



660 GENERAL STSTORY OF THE STATES. 

Scientific men differ on this point ; but as to their mineral proper- 
ties there is no room for doubt. 

In the following pages the analyses of the more prominent 
wells will be given, the order of their arrangement having no 
reference to the date of their discovery or their value in the treat- 
ment of disease. In regard to the latter point, the analysis will 
be the best guide ; some being adapted to the treatment of one 
class of diseases and others to another. It is not in the province 
of the historian to discriminate. INIany of them are extensively 
patronized, and thousands of remarkable cures have been reported. 

ST. LOUIS MAGNETIC SPRINGS. 

St. Louis is a quiet and pleasant little town of about 1,500 
inhabitants, situated about 34 miles west of Saginaw, and is 
reached by the Saginaw Valley and St. Louis Railroad. It has 
four hotels, capable of accommodating three or four hundred 
guests. A commodious bath house has been erected at the well, 
and is under the supervision of Dr. Silas Kennedy, resident physi- 
cian. The following analysis of this water was made by Dr. 
Samuel P. Duffield, of Detroit Medical College. It is calculated 
on the imperial or wine gallon, S. G. 1011. 

Mr. Baldwin was a member of the legislature of Michigan in 1844 and 
1846; prosecuting attorney for Oakland county in 1858 and 1854, and 
representative for the (then) fifth congressional district of Michigan, in 
the Thirty-eighth Congress of the United Slates, serving upon the com- 
mittee on agriculture and the committee on expenditures in the Depart- 
ment of the Interior. 

His political atfiliation has always been with the Democratic party. 
He w^as a delegate to the national Democratic conventions at Charleston 
and Baltimore in 18G0, and at Chicago in 1864. 

He has devoted a considerable portion of his fortune to the acquisition 
of an extensive lil)rary in the departments of law and literature. In 
1871, he was in possession of one of only three complete sets of Ameri- 
can Reports in the United States, for some single volumes of which he 
paid as high a price as $75. This valuable and rare collection was sold 
to the Bar As.sociation of Kansas city, Missouri. His private library 
consists of about 7,000 volumes, and his collection of paintings is one of 
the finest in Michigan. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



661 



Sulphate lime, 66.50; silicate lime, 6.72; chloride, a trace; 
bicarbonate soda, 106.40; bicarbonate lime, 69.40; bicarbonate 
magnesia, 17.50; bicarbonate iron, 1.20; silica, free, 2.88; 
organic matter and loss, 2.00 ; total constituents, 272.60. Bicar- 




HON. CHARLES RYND, M. D. 

The subject of the present sketch is emphatically a self-made man. 
Unaided by any circumstances of birth or fortune, he has by sheer force 
of intellect, by industry and by indomitable persistence of purpose, 
attained a positicm of honor among men, socially, politically and as an 
eminent practitioner of medicine. IJe was born December 28, 188(5, in 
the county of Donegal, Ireland, and belongs to that race of Protestant 
Irishmen which has given to the world so many persons eminent in the 
various walks of life. In May, 1851, not yet fifteen years of age, but 
having received, for a boy of his age, the ground-work of a first-class 
education, he came to this country alone, landed in New York city in 
June, and from thence went directly to Canada. His experience in 



662 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

bonates, 194.50 ; free carbonic acid in gallon, 6.21 ; sulphureted 
hydrogen, traces. Total mineral matter in gallon, 276.81. 

ALPENA MAGNETIC WELL. 

This well is situated in the town of Alpena, on Thunder bay, 
about 100 miles south of Mackinaw. It is a very pleasant, 
thriving town, and posesses many advantages as a summer resort, 
having good hotel accommodations, bathing facilities, churches 
and billiard tables. The place is reached by steamer from Detroit 
and Saginaw. The chemical analysis shows the following constit- 
uent elements of the water : 

Bicarbonate of soda, 15,736 grains; bicarbonate of lime, 
65,136 ; bicarbonate of magnesia, 62,920 ; bicarbonate of iron, 
1,840; sulphate of lime, 30,056; 'silica and aluminum, 3,088; 
chloride of sodium (salt), 68,256 ; organic matter and loss, 928 ; 
total, 237,900. Total mineral constituents 237,032 grains; sulphu- 
reted hydrogen gas, 3.91 cubic inches ; carbonic acid gas, a trace. 

MIDLAND MAGNETIC SPRING. 

This well is situated in the town from which its name is derived, 

a thriving village on the Tittabawassee river. It is about 20 

miles northwest of Saginaw, and is reached by the Flint and Pere 

Marquette Railway. It has good hotel accommodations, and a 

Canada was that of every boy, either here or there, who is thrown 
entirly on his own resources. What he secured, either in money or 
knowledge, was honestly earned. He worked on a farm, clerked in the 
store of Hon. T. B. Guest, of St. Mary's, since a member of parliament, 
and afterwards assumed charge of a large school, which he managed 
with marked ability and success for five consecutive years. During these 
years he made good use of his spare time. 

Under the private tuition of a Presbyterian clergyman he became a 
good classic scholar. He wrote largely for the Toronto journals, and 
studied medicine under the instruction of Dr. Daniel Wilson, a dis- 
tinguished and scholarly practitioner of St. Mary's. Anxious to enlarge 
his acquisitions in this direction, he left the Dominion and entered the 
University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he took a thorough course 
of instruction, not only in medicine, but also in the chemical laboratory. 
While in the university, he was the private pupil and assistant of Profes- 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAIJ. 663 

good bath house has been opened in connection with the well. 
An analysis of its waters shows it to contain, in one imperial 
gallon : 

Sulphate of lime, 4.4591 grains; sulphate of potassa, 82.1930 ; 
sulphate of soda, 22.0690; phosphate of alumina, 1.7287, chlor- 
ide of calcium, 6.2194; chloride of magnesium, 2.1948; chloride 
of sodium, 32.7025 ; silica, 2.9631 ; organic matter, 2,4692 ; loss, 
3.2120; total salts, 160.2108. 

EATON RAPIDS MAGNETIC SPRINGS. 

These wells are in the town of Eaton Rapids, twenty-five miles 
northwest from Jackson, on Grand river, and are reached by the 
Grand River Valley Railroad. It is a beautiful, enterprising and 
healthful town, aud has become within a few years an exceed- 
ingly popular summer resort. Seven wells are found here, each 
one being connected with a hotel, and possessing ample bathing 
facilities. The Frost well is the oldest, and bears the following 
analysis, by Professor Duffield : 

Sulphate of lime, 4.64 grains ; carbonate of lime, 46.24 ; car- 
bonate of magnesia, 9.11 ; carbonate of iron, 2.38 ; chloride of 
sodium, 9.21 ; silica, 15.74 ; organic matter and loss, .90. Total 
mineral contents of one imperial gallon, 88.22 ; total carbonic 
acid, 22.22 cubic inches. 

8or M. Gunn, now of Rush Medical College, Chicago. In the spring of 
1859, he graduated with honor, and devoted the following summer to 
hospital practice, settling in Adrian in November of the same year, 
where he has ever since resided. He has, since his residence in Adrian, 
served four years in the common council, where he inaugurated several 
important measures of civic reform, which have since been copifd by 
nearly all the leading cities of the State. He has also served as president 
of the board of education with credit to himself, and advantage to the 
city. In the spring of 1871, he was, after a somewhat warm contest, 
nominated by the State Republican convention as a candidate for regent 
of the university, and was elected by a very large majority, his vote at 
home showing the appreciation in which he was held. In the city of 
Adrian, he ran ahead of his colleagues, on the State ticket, nearly 900 
votes, and he also ran largely ahead in all parts of the county. 
Dr. Rynd has always been an indefatigable worker. His will secures 



664 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

The Shaw spring, analyzed by Prof. Kedzie, of the State 
Agricultural College, bears the following analysis : 

Cubic inches per gallon of carbonic acid gas, 15.97; solid resi- 
due left on evaporating one gallon, 90.45 grains. An analysis of 
the residue shows the following: Sulphate of lime, 48.13 grains; 
carbonate of lime, 20.74; carbonate of magnesia, 3.84; carbonate 
of iron, 2.23 ; carbonate of soda, 11.57 ; carbonate of potassa, 1.27 ; 
chloride of sodium, .90 ; silica acid, 1.40 ; organic matter and loss, 
.90. 

Professor Kedzie also analyzed the Mosher spring, with the 
following result : 

Sulphate of lime, 45.16 grains ; carbonate of lime, 19.43; car- 
bonate of magnesia, 4.52 ; carbonate of iron, 1.00 ; carbonate of 
potassa, 1.15; carbonate of soda, 5.38; chloride of sodium, 90; 
silicic acid, 2.54 ; organic matter and loss, .85. Total solid con- 
tents in grains, 79.23; cubic inches carbonic acid gas, 15.38. 

Dr. C. T. Jackson, State Assayer of Massachusetts, made the 
following analysis of the Sterling spring : 

Sulphate of lime, 55.20 grains; sulphate of soda, 12.59; sul- 
phate of magnesia, 9.40 ; carbonate of soda and chloride of sodium, 
5.21 ; carbonate of iron, 2.80. Total solid contents, 85.20. 

Professor Kedzie also made the analysis of the Bordine spring 
with the following result ; 

success in every work he undertakes. Possessed of a vigorous constitu- 
tion and being extremely simple and temperate in all his habits, he has 
secured a large and remunerative practice, has secured also a comfortable 
competence, and has invested largely in industrial interests in the city of 
his reside acr. His action on the board of regents has been characterized 
by an intelligent liberality, a keen insight into the necessities of the 
university, and an intense hatred of shams and dishonesty. In the sum- 
mer of 1873, he was tendered a professorship in the medical department 
of the university, which he declined. 

He is a very ready writer, a fluent and vigorous public speaker, a hard 
worker, keeps a keen and intelligent watch of public afiairs, is a warm 
friend to those he esteems, liberal to a fault, thoroughly independent — is, 
in short, a good citizen, public spirited and enterprising, ever on the side 
of right and justice— a good illustration of what may be accomplished by 
energy, industry and integrity under adverse and untoward circum- 
stances. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



665 



Sulphate of lime, 57.50 grains ; bicarbonate of lime, 40.47 ; 
bicarbonate of magnesia, 8.40 ; bicarbonate of potassa, 3.00 ; 
bicarbonate of soda, 5.05 ; bicarbonate of iron, 2.25 ; chloride of 
sodium, ].50; silicia, 2.00. Total grains in a gallon, 120.17; 
cubic inches carbonic acid, 17.35. 




HON. HENRY H. CRAPO. 

Henry H. Crapo, the fourteenth governor of Michigan, was born in 
Dartmouth, Massachusetts, May 24th, 1804. 

He received his education in that State, and took up his residence in 
New Bedford, where he remained for many year?. 

Mr. Crapo removed to Michigan in 1857, and settling in the village of 
Flint, soon became extensively interested in the manufacture and sale of 



666 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

SPRING LAKE MAGNETIC SPRING. 

This well is iu the towa whose name it bears, which is situated 
on the Grand river at its junction with the body of water known 
as Spring lake. It is two miles from Grand Haven, and is con- 
nected with that town by a line of stages. A good bath house 
has been erected at the well, and the hotel accommodations are 
excellent. Prof. Wheeler, of Chicago, has analyzed the waters 
with the following result: 

Chloride of potassium, 4.2880 grains ; chloride of sodium, 
405.5330; chloride of calcium, 113,4200; chloride of magnesium, 
36.2000 ; bicarbonate of soda, 0.0547 ; bicarbonate of lime, 0.1 308 ; 
bicarbonate of ferri, 1.0090; bicarbonate of magnesium, 0.0040; 
bicarbonate of manganese, 0.0534; bromide, 2.1700; sulphate of 
soda, 46.7000 ; silicia, 0.5030 ; alumina, traces ; ammonia, 0.0158; 
organic matter, 18.2902 ; lithia, traces. 

LANSING MAGNETIC SPRING. 

This spring is situated at Lansing, the capital of the State, a 
beautiful and flourishing city of about 6,500 inhabitants. The 
town is easily reached by railroad from any direction. The hotel 
accommodations are ample and excellent. The spring is located 
at the confluence of Grand and Cedar rivers, about a mile up the 
Grand river. A commodious bath house is in operation, and a 
large first-class hotel has been built in connection with the spring. 
The well is about 1,400 feet in depth, and discharges 1,500 gallons 
per day. An analysis made by Dr. Jennings, of Detroit, presents 
the following result : 

Chloride of sodium, 320.224; bicarbonate of lime, 107.590; 

lumber, and did much to promote the growth of his adopted city by 
encouraging its manufacturing interests. 

He served the city of Flint as mayor for some time, and was called to 
the executive chair of the State in January, 1864, and served in that 
capacity two terms, or until the close of 1867. He was governor of the 
State during the last years of the rebellion, and performed invaluable 
services for the North in its final struggle, which resulted in the complete 
overthrow of the Southern Confederacy. 

Governor Crapo died at his home, in Flint, on the 23d of July, 1869. 



HISTORY OF MICHIQAN. 667 

bicarbonate of soda, 112.081 ; bicarbonate of magnesia, 23.027 ; 
bicarbonate of iron, 1.882: sulphate of potassa, 14.940; sulphate 
of soda, 30.065; silica, 3.966. Solid contents of one imperial 
gallon, 613.775. Total carbonic acid, 235.550 cubic inches. 

FRUITPORT SULPHUR AND MAGNETIC WELL. 

This well is located in Fruitport, a new and flourishing town 
situated at the head of Spring lake. It occupies a prominent 
position in the fruit region of the western part of the State, on 
the shore of Lake Michigan. It possesses ample hotel accommo- 
dations, a commodious bath house, and is a popular resort for 
pleasure and health seekers. Prof. Wheeler, of Chicago, pre- 
sents the following analysis of its waters : 

Bicarb, soda, 6.5156 ; bicarb, lime, 5.1100 ; bicarb, iron, 
7.5000; bicarb, magnesia, 4.1511; bicarb, manganese, 0.1050; 
chloride sodium, 464.0319; chloride lime, 111.1110; chloride 
potassium, 0.4312; chloride magnesium, 46.8072 ; bromide, 0.7666; 
sulphate soda, 45.9960; silica and silicates, 10.6050; alumina, 
traces. Total fixed residue, 679.7489. Total free gas, 7 cubic 

inches. 

BUTTERWORTH'S MAGNETIC SPRING. 

This spring is located at Grand Rapids, one of the most flour- 
ishing cities in Michigan, situated on the Detroit and Milwaukee 
Railroad. The hotel accommodations are first class in every 
respect, and ample bathing facilities are offered at the spring. The 
waters of this spring are said to resemble that of Bath, England. 
Prof Duffield's analysis presents the following result : 

Sulphate of lime, 90.190; chloride of potassium, 11.790; chlo- 
ride of sodium, 15.280 ; chloride of calcium, 7.330 ; chloride of 
magnesium, 50.240; bicarb, soda, 6.003; bicarb, lime, 10.U12; 
bicarb, magnesia, 7.020 ; bicarb, iron, 1.170; silica, .617; alum- 
ina, .494 ; organic matter and losss, .801. Total mineral matter, 
200.947. 

OWOSSO CHALYBEATE SPRING. 

Owosso is a flourishing town, situated on the Detroit and Mil- 
waukee Railroad, at the crossing of the Jackson, Lansing and 
Saginaw Railroad. The spring is situated about a mile south of 



668 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

the town. A bath-house has been erected, and the place is des- 
tined to become a popular resort. The following is the analysis 
of the water : 

Bicarb, lime, 25.667; bicarb, magnesia, 19.094 ; bicarb, iron, 
15.920 ; chlorides sodium and potassium, 2.102 ; silica and alum- 
ina, .617. Total miueral in one gallon, 63.400. 

HUBBARDSTON MAGNETIC SPRING. 

This spring is located in the town whose name it bears, and is 
reached by the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad to Pewamo, 
thence by stage six miles to the well. A bath house has been 
erected, and hotel accommodations are convenient. Prof. Doug- 
lass, of the Michigan University, has analyzed the waters, with 
the following result : 

Bicarb, of lime, 23.812; bicarb, magnesia, 10.712; protoxide 

of iron, .154 ; silica, .139. Total mineral matter in one gallon, 

34.817. 

LESLIE MAGNETIC SPRING. 

This spring is situated at Leslie, a smart village on the Jackson, 
Lansing and Saginaw Railroad, between Jackson and Lansing. 
A good bath house is in operation, and hotel accommodations are 
convenient. Prof Kedzie's analysis of the waters present the fol- 
lowing result : 

Bicarb, lime, 30.62 ; sulphate of lime, 7.04 ; bicarb, magnesia, 
10.53 ; bicarb, iron, 2.27 ; bicarb soda, 5.27 ; bicarb potassa, 
4.55; silica, 2.08; organic matter, .65. Grains solid matter in 
imperial gallon, 63.01. Free carbonic acid gas in gallon 13^ 
cubic inches. 

MOUNT CLEMENS MAGNETIC MINERAL SPRING. 
This spring is situated on the banks of the Clinton river, at 
Mount Clemens, twenty miles from Detroit, and is reached by the 
Grand Trunk Railway and by boat from Detroit. The town is 
beautifully situated, ample hotel accommodations are convenient 
to the springs, and a commodious bath house is in operation. A 
well known physician. Dr. H. Taylor, acts as consulting physician 
at the establishment. A committee appointed by the Northeast- 



HISTORY OS' MICHIGAN. 



669 



em Medical and Scientific Society reported these waters as being 
unsurpassed by any in this State, or the State of New York. The 
following is the analysis of the water made by Prof. Duffield : 

Specific gravity at 60^ Fahrenheit, 1129.00. Total amount of 
mineral matter per pint, 1417.6200. Total amount of chloride 
of sodium per pint 1350.8498 = 66.7702. 

Composition — Sulphate soda per pint, 12.0700 — per gallon, 
96.5600; sulphate lime per pint, 5.4992 — per gallon, 43.9936; 
chloride sodium per pint, 1350.8498 — per gallon, 10806.7984; 
chloride calcium per pint, 26.9399 — per gallon, 215.5120; chloride 
magnesium per pint, 20.2400 — per gallon, 161.9200; carbonate 




SAUGATUCK UNION SCHOOL. 

The above engraving is a very correct representation of the Union 
School at Saugaluck, Allegan county, iMich., and is a fair sample of the 
beautiful school buildings found in the different villages of about one 
thousand inhabitants throughout the State. 



670 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

lime per pint, .6210 — per gallon, 4.9680 ; carbonate magnesia, a 
trace; silica and alumina per pint, 1.4010 ; organic matter, trace ; 
grains, per pint, 1417.6200— per gallon, 11340.9600. 

Amount of sulphureted hydrogen per gallon, 3.41 cubic inches; 
carbonic acid, trace. 

The foregoing are the principal mineral springs in the State. 
They have all won a high reputation for their curative properties, 
and thousands in this and other States attest their value. There 
are many others, probably of equal importance, and when better 
known will take their places in the front rank of curative agen- 
cies. At present Michigan seems destined to become the great 
popular resort for pleasure-seekers and for those whose physical 
constitutions require the reconstructive agencies of medicinal 
waters. 



GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 



DURING FRENCH RULE. 

Sieur de Mesey, appointed 1663; Sieur de Courcelle, 1665; Sienr de 
Frontenac, 1672; Sieur de Barre, 1682; Sieur Marquis de Nouville, 1685; 
Sieur de Frontenac, 16^9; Sieur Clievalier de Callieres, 1699; Marquis de 
Vaudreuil, 1703; Marquis de Beauharnais, 1726; Sieur Compt de la Gal- 
lisoniere, 1749; Sieur de la Jonquiere, 1749; Marquis du Quesne de Men- 
neville, 1752; Sieur de Vaudreuil de Cavagnal, 1755. 

DURING BRITISH RULE. 

James Murray, appointed 1765 ; Paulus Eraelius Irving, 1766 ; Guy 
Carleton, 1766; Hector T. Cramahe, 1770; Guy Garleton, 1774; Frederick 
Haldeman, 1774; Henry Hamilton, 1774; Henry Hope, 1775; Lord Dor- 
chester, 1776; Alured Clarke, 1791; Lord Dorchester, 1798. 

GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN TERRITORY. 

William Hull, appointed in 1805; Lewis Cass, 1814; George B. Porter, 
1829; Stevens T. Mason (ex officio), 1834; John T. Horner {ex officio), 1835. 

MICHIGAN STATE GO\TERNORS. 

Stevens T. Mason, 1835; William Woodbridge, 1840; J. Wright Gordon 
(acting), 1841; John S. Barry, 1842; Alpheus Felch, 1846; William L. 
Greenly (acting), 1847; Epaphroditus Ransom, 1848; John S.Barry, 
1850; Robert McClelland, 1852; Andrew Parsons (acting), 1853; Kinsley 
S. Bingham, 1855; Moses Wisner, 1859; Austin Blair, 1861; Henry H. 
Crapo, 1865; Henry P. Baldwin, 1869; John J. Bagley, 1873. 

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS OF MICHIGAN. 

Edward Mundy, 1835; J. Wright Gordon, 1840; Origen D. Richardson, 
1842; William L. Greenly, 1847; William M. Fenton, 1848; William L. 
Greenly, 1849; William M. Fenton, 1850; Andrew Parsons, 1853; George 
A Coe, 1855; Edmund B. Fairfield, 1859; James Biruey, 1861; Joseph R. 
Williams (acting), 1861; Henry T. Backus (acting), 1862; Charles S May, 
186:^; Ebenezer O Grosvenor, 1865; Dwight May, 1867; Morgan Bates, 
1869; Henry H. Holt, 1873. 



672 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

SPEAKERS OP THE HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. 

Ezra Convis, 1835 ; Charles W. Whipple, 1836 ; Kinsley S. Bingham, 
1838; Henry Acker, 1840; Phiio C. Fuller, 1841; Kinsley S. Bingham, 1842; 
Robert McClelland, 1843; Edwin H. Lothrop, 1841; Alfred H Hanscom, 
1845; Isaac E. Crary, 1846; George W. Peck, 1847; Alexander W. Buel, 
1848; Leander Chapman, 1849; Silas G. Harris, 1850; .Jefferson G. Thur- 
ber, 1851; Daniel G. Qaackenboss, 1853; Cyrus Lovell, 1855; Byron G. 
Stout, 1857; Henry A.Shaw, 1859; Dexter Mussey, 1861; Sullivan M. 
Cutcheon, 1863; Gilbert E. Read, 1865; P. Dean Warner, 1867; Jonathan 
J. Woodman, 1869; Charles M. Croswell, 1873. 

SECRETARIES OF STATE. 

Keutzing Pritchette, 1835; Randolph Manning, 1838; Thomas Rowland, 
1840; Robert P. Eldridge, 1843; Gideon O. Whittemore, 1846; George W. 
Peck, 1848 ; George Redfield, 1850 ; Charles H. Taylor, 1850 ; William 
Graves, 1853; ,Tohn McKinney, 1855; Nelson G. Isbell, 1859; James B. 
Porter, 1861; Oliver L. Spauldiug, 1867; Daniel Striker, 1871, reelected and 
now in office. 

STATE TREASURERS. 

Henry Howard, 1836; Peter Desnoyer; 1839; Robert Stuart, 1840; 
George W. Germain, 1811; John J. Adam, 1843; George Redfield, 1845; 
George B. Cooper, 1846; Banard Whittemore, 1850; Silas M. Holmes, 
1855; John McKinney, 1859; John Owen, 1860; Ebenezer O. Grosvenor, 
1867; Victory P. Collier, 1871, reelected and now in office. 

ATTORNEYS-GENERAL. 

Daniel Le Roy, 1836; Peter Morey, 1837; Zephaniah Piatt, 1841; Elon 
Farnsworlh, 1843; Henry N. Walker, 1845; Edward Muudy, 1847; George 
V. N. Lothrop, 1848; William Hall, 1851; Jacob M. Howard, 1855; Charles 
Upson, 1861; Albert Williams, 1863; William L. Stougliton, 1867; Dwight 
May, 1869; Byron D. Ball, 1873. 

AUDITORS-GENERAL. 

Robert Abbott, 1836; Henry Howard, 1839; Eurotas P. Hastings, 1840; 
Alpheus Felch, 1843; Henry L. Whipple, 1843; Charles G. Hammond, 
1842; John J. Adam, 1845; Digby V. Bell, 1846; John J. Adam, 1848; 
John Swegles, jr., 1850; John Swegles, 1853; Whitney Jones, 1855; Daniel 
L. Case, 1859; Langford G. Berry, 1861; Emil Auneke, 1863; William 
Humphrey, 1867, reelected and now in office. 

SUPERINTENDENTS OP PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 

John D Pierce, 1838; Franklin Sawyer, jr., 1841; Oliver C. Comstock, 
M. D., 1843; Ira May hew, M. A., 1845; Francis W. Shearman, M. A., 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 673 

184 ; Ira Mayhew, M. A., 1855; John M. Gregory, M. A., 1858 ; Oramel 
Hosford, 1865; Daniel B. Briggs, 1873. 

PRESIDENTS OP THE UNIVERSITY. 

Rev. Henry Philip Tappan, D. D. LL. D., 1852 ; Rev. Erastus Otis 
Haven, D. D., LL. D., 1863; James Burrill Angell, D. D.. LL. D., 1871. 

JUDGES OP THE TERRITORIAL SUPREME COURT. 

Augustus B. Woodward, 1805-24; Frederick Bates, 1805-8; John Griffin, 
1806-24 ; James Witherell, 1808-28 ; Solomon Sibley, 1824-36 ; Henry 
Chipman, 1827-32; William Woodbridge, 1828-32; George Morell, 
1832-36; Ross Wilkins, 1832-36. 

CHANCELLORS OF THE STATE. 

Elon Farnsworth, 1837-42-46; Randolph Manning, 1842-46. 

JUDGES OP THE SUPREME COURT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OP 1835. 

William A.Fletcher, 1836-42; Epaphroditus Ransom, 1836-47; George 
Morell, 1836-42; Charles W.Whipple, 1837-48 and 1852-55; Alpheus 
Felch, 1842-45; David Goodwin, 1843-46; Edward Mundy, 1848-51; War- 
ner Wing, 1845-52 and 1854-57; George Miles, 1846-50; Sanford M. Green, 
1848-54 and 1856-58 ; George Martin, 1851-58 ; Joseph T. Copeland, 
1852-57; Samuel T. Douglas 1852-57; David Johnson, 1852-57; Abner 
Pratt, 1851-57; Nathaniel Bacon, 1855-58 ; E. H C.Wilson, 1856-58; 
Benjamin F. H. Witherell, Benjamin F. Graves, Josiah Turner, Edwin 
Lawrence, to fill vacancies in the latter part of 1857. 

JUDGES OP SUPREME COURT UNDER PRESENT ORGANIZATION. 

George Martin, 1858-68; Randolph Manning, 1858-64; Isaac P. Chris- 
tiancy, 1858, twice reelected, and term expires with 1881; James V. 
Campbell, 1858, twice reelected, and term expires with 1879; Thomas M. 
Cooley, 1865, reelected, and term expires with 1877; Benjamin F. Graves, 
1868, term expires with 1875. 

UNITED STATES SENATORS. 

John Norvell, 1836-41; Lucius Lyon, 1836-40; Augustus S. Porter, 
1840-45; William Woodbridge, 1841-47; Lewis Cass, 1845-48, and 
1850-57; Thomas H. Fitzgerald, session of 1848-49; Alpheus Felch, 
1847-53; Charles E. Stuart, 1853-59; Zachariah Chandler, 1857-75, Kins- 
ley S. Bingham, 1859-61; Jacob M. Howard, 1861-71; Thomas W. Ferry, 
1871-77. 

43 



674 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

REPRESENTATIVES DSf CONGRESS. 

Isaac E. Crary, 1836-41; Jacob M. Howard, 1841-43; Lucivis Lyon, 
1843-45; Robert McClelland, 1843-49; James B. Hunt, 1843-47; John S. 
Chipman, 1845-47; Charles E. Stuart, 1847-49, and 1851-53; Kinsley S. 
Bingham, 1849-51; Alexander W. Buel, 1849-1851; William Sprague, 
1849-51; James L. Conger, 1851-53; Ebenezer J. Penniman, 1851-53; 
Samuel Clark, 1853-55; David A. Noble, 1853-55; Hester L. Stevens, 
1853-55; David Stuart, 1853-55; George W. Peck, 1855-57; William A. 
Howard, 1855-61; Henry Waldron, 1855-61, and 1871-75; David S. Wal- 
bridge, 1855-59; D. C. Leach, 1857-61; Francis W. Kellogg, 1859-65; 
B. F. Granger, 1861-63; F. C. Beaman, 1861-71; Rowland E. Trow- 
bridge, 1861-63, and 1865-09; Charles Upson, 1863-69; John W. Long- 
year, 1863-67; Augustus C. Baldwin, 1863-65; John F. Driggs, 1863-69; 
Thomas W. Ferry, 1865-71; Austin Blair, 1867-73; William L. Stough- 
ton, 1869-73. Omar D. Conger, 1869-75; Randolph Strickland, 1869-71; 
Jabez G. Sutherland, 1871-73; Moses W. Field, 1873-75; George Willard, 
1873-75; Julius C. Burrows, 1873-75; Wilder D. Foster, 1873; Josiah W. 
Begole, 1873-75; Nathan B. Bradley, 1873-75; Jay A. Hubbell, 1873-75; 
W. B. Williams, 1873-75. 



POPULATION OF MICHIGAN. 

In 1820, 8,896; in 1830, 31,639; in 1840, 213,267; in 1850, 397,659; in 
1860, 749,113; in 1870, 1,184,059. 



HON. JOSEPH CAMPAU. 



Makqtjis Jacques Campau, father of the late Hon. Joseph Campau, 
who was so intimately identified with the earlier days of the city of Detroit, 
was born in that city about the year 1730. This is a date in the history of 
Detroit surrounded with the greatest ambiguity. No records, either in 
the English or the French languages, afford any information touching this 
period, or for several years both preceding and succeeding this date. 
However, an examination of the papers and documents preserved by the 
descendants of Mr. Jacques Campau discloses many items of history that 
would have otherwise been lost to all generations. A digest of this collec- 
tion of papers constitutes the following interesting piece of biography and 
history: The father of Mr. Jacques Campau must have accompanied M. 
la Motte Cadillac to Detroit in 1701, being one of that original company 
who left their homes and united their hopes with the sanguine la Motte, 
to establish an outpost on the Detroit. At this time he was probably not 
more than fifteen or twenty years of age. He sustained some relations to 
the court of the commandant, or " Governor of the Post," as he was then 
called, being originally appointed as Cadillac's private secretary. Mr. 
Jacques Campau, the father of the Hon. Joseph Campau, distinguished 
himself in the battle of Abraham's Plains, and attained many honors 
with General Montcalm at Quebec in 1759. 

Mr. Jacques Campau was among the first settlers of the little fort who 
pushed out beyond its narrow limits to establish an independent home, 
and the engraving of his house and the little church which he afterwards 
erected, which is presented here, affords a view of his success. The 
dwelling represented in the scene was erected on the lot now known as 
the James Campau farm, being the orignal claim. No. 91. It was built 
about the year 1757, and was the birth-place of the late Hon. Joseph 
Campau. It was in this building where Captain Rogers and his patriotic 
soldiers took refuge while endeavoring to make a retreat after the battle 
of Bloody Run. He entered it with some of his own men, while many 
panic-stricken regulars broke in after him in their eagerness to gain a 
temporary shelter. The house was strong, being the most substantial 
dwelling in that neighborhood, and the women of the place had crowded 
into the cellar for refuge. While some of the soldiers looked in great 
terror for a place of concealment, others seized upon some wine in one 
of the rooms, and drank it down with eager thirst; while others, again, 



676 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

piled packs of furs, furniture, and all else within their reach, against the 
windows, to serve as a barricade. "Panting and breathless, their faces 
moist with sweat and blackened with gunpowder," says Parkman, " they 
thrust their muskets through the openings and fired out upon the whoop- 
ing assailants. At intervals a bullet flew sharply whizzing through a 
crevice, striking down a man, perchance, or rapping harmlessly against 
the partitions. The venerable and dauntless old Jacques Campau, the 
owner of the house, stood guarding a trap door, to prevent the frightened 
soldiers and Indians from seeking shelter among the women in the cellar. 
A ball grazed his gray head and buried itself in the wall, where, even to 
the day the building was demolished, it might still have been seen. The 
screams of the half-stifled women below, the quavering war whoops 
without, the shouts and curses of the soldiers, mingled in a scene of 
clamorous confusion, and it was long before the authority of Rogers 
could restore order." 

Such was one of the scenes enacted in the old dwelling of Mr. Jacques 
Campau. It has rendered the house interesting in history, hence we 
preserve its appearance. 

Mr. Jacques Campau erected the little church, which is represented in 
the engraving on page 677 as standing near his own house on the Kiver 
Road, about the year 1778. It was temporarily used for public worship, 
and stood for many years after as a mark of his benevolence. 

Mr. Jacques Campau commanded at Detroit previous to its surrender 
by Captain Bellestre, or in 1758, and held a military office at the fort on 
the date of the surrender. His wife, and mother of Major Joseph Cam- 
pau (Catharine Manard), was born in Montreal. She was married to Mr. 
Jacques Campau, and removed to Detroit about seven years before the 
surrender of the post to the English. 

Jean Bte. Campau, uncle of the late Joseph Campau, was grand judge 
of Detroit in 1767. 

Major Joseph Campau was born in Detroit on the 20th of February, 
1769. His parents, M. Jacques Campau and Catherine Manard, were at 
this time residing in the fort, on the old Campau homestead, which dates 
its origin among the first plots of land ever granted by M. la Motte, 
through the consent of the Governor-General of Canada, and sanction of 
the King of France. The British garrison, consisting partly of regulars 
and partly of provincial rangers, was then quartered in a well built range 
of barracks within the town or fort. The latter contained about one 
hundred and twenty small houses. Its form was nearly square, and 
the palisade which surrounded it was about twenty-five feet high. At 
each corner was a wooden bastion, and a block-house was erected over 
each gateway. The houses were small, chiefly built of wood, and roofed 
with bark or thatch of straw. The streets were extremely narrow, though 



678 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

a wide passage way, known as the chemin du ronde, surrounded the town, 
between tlie houses and the palisade. Beside the barracks, the only 
public; buildings were a council-house and a rude little church. 

Joseph Campau received his primary education from his devoted 
mother, to whose great care and anxiety for the proper Christian train- 
ing and early education of her son, we are indebted for those traits of 
benevolence and great leniency of which Mr. Campau's life was after- 
wards characteristic. At the age of ten he was sent to school at Montreal, 
where he remained five years. He received a good French education, 
and returned to Detroit in 1786, one of the most accomplished Frenchmen 
of the old aristocratic town. Nor did he lack any of those qualities 
which make Frenchmen attractive in society. His name was an acknowl- 
edged title to French nobility, and his polished manners and finished 
education invested him with much interest. 

On his return from Montreal, his father having died during his absence, 
he entered into the employment of Mr. McGregor, a storekeeper at Sand- 
wich, Canada, as a clerk. He remained in this capacity for some time, 
or until the commencement of his Maiden enterprise. Plaving accumu- 
lated some funds, he entered into a contract with the British government 
to erect a fort at Maiden. He proceeded to execute this work, collecting 
a vast quantity of timber for the buildings of the fort, when a freshet 
came and swept it all away, leaving him quite penniless. He then 
returned to, the employment of Mr. McGregor, and shortly afterwards 
entered into the mercantile business on his own account. From this 
period dated his success. He generally procured his goods in Montreal, 
but was the first merchant of Detroit who purchased goods in Boston 
and transported them to the western settlements. Joseph Campau was 
indeed the great pioneer merchant of Michigan. He was not only the 
leading spirit in mercantile pursuits in his day, but through almost 
unparalleled success — the result of his own great energy and exemplary 
integrity — he accumulated a large fortune, and was, at an early day, the 
most extensive dealer in Detroit. 

As early as 1786 he commenced buying and selling real estate. In this 
business Mr. Joseph Campau rendered his country an invaluable service. 
It was his rule to purchase uncultivated lands, erect comfortable dwell- 
ings upon them, and dispose of the lots after they had been prepared for 
the reception of civilization. On almost all these lots he placed buildings 
costing from |o,000 to $4,000, and paid, on the average, $50 an acre for 
clearing the land. He displayed almost matchless enterprise in this. work, 
providing attractive homes for hundreds of the early settlers of Detroit 
and Michigan. It was his custom to either sell or rent these places, after 
clearing a large portion of the land and placing comfortable dwellings 
upon it. His customers were, for the most part, poor people, who, with 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



679 



but a few dollars, had come to develop a home among the pioneers of the 
northwest. Mr. Campau's books show that many were the tenants who 
depended upon his charity for a home. When times were hard and 
money was scarce, and rents or mortgages came due, it was Mr. Campau's 
pride to visit his debtors and encourage them with words of good cheer, 
assuring them that the kind Providence who had intrusted so much 







HON. JOSEPH CAMPAU. 

property to his care and disposal had taught him to " do unto others as he 
would that others should do unto him." In this way many an aching 
mother's heart was made glad, and hundreds of little children were per- 
mitted to enjoy the fruits of a father's industry, that, with a less benevo- 
lent master than Mr. Campau, they would have suffered for. Hundreds 
still live, and thousands have gone to their graves, who have borne testi- 



680 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

niony to the great philanthropy and willing charity of this good old 
pioneer and patriarchial citizen. His books show that there was due him 
at one time two and a half millions of dollars, of which he never collected 
one cent. Besides this, he left an estate worth over three millions. He 
had seventy-four farms or plantations, the bulk of which was in the 
vicinity of Detroit. 

Mr. Campau also entered very largely into stock raising, and stocked 
all his farms with horses, cattle and sheep, renting them with everything 
necessary for agricultural pursuits. Some of his tenants remained on 
his farms for two or three generations, and many without consideration 
therefor. He was the largest "Norman horse" owner in the northwest. 
These animals, originally from Arabia, were imported from Normandy, 
in France, and, thriving greatly in this country, produced the present 
popular breed of horses for which Canada and the northwest have become 
renowned. At one time Mr. Campau owned over five hundred horses. 

He was a member of the Board of Trade Britannic as early as 1798, 
and, in many respects, was the leading merchant of the northwest for 
many years subsequent to that period. In 1812 he was connected with 
the Northwestern Fur Companj^ with John Jacob Astor, James Abbott 
and J. G. Schwarz. Mr. Schwarz afterwards became United States Min- 
ister to Vienna, and more recently, one of the secretaries of Pope Pius 
IX. In his connection with the Northwestern Fur Company, Mr. Campau 
was remarkably successful, both for himself and for the company. 

In 1802 Mr. Campau was elected one of the trustees of the city of 
Detroit, and, although he was adverse to holding public offices, in the 
course of his useful life he was always exerting a valuable influence for 
the public good. We find him identified with every public improvement 
of his day, and in many things he assumed a leading position, freely 
expending his own means to further the common welfare. In 1806 he 
erected, at his own expense, the first school-house that ever appeared in 
Detroit. 

Mr. Campan was not only active and liberal in his work to promote the 
educational interests of his native city, but assumed much responsibility 
for the cause of the church. In 1806 he contracted for the building of 
St Ann's church. 

In 1808 he was married to Adelaide Dequindre, sister of the late Major 
Antoine Dequindre, and daughter of Antoine Pontchartrain Dequindre 
and Catherine Desriviere Lomoinodiere. His brother-in-law. Major 
Antoine Dequindre, referred to here, is the same who distinguished him- 
self at the battle of the Monguagon, in 1812, and who received the fol- 
lowing complimentary joint resolution from the State Legislature for 
gallant services rendered on that occasion: 



HISTORY OF MlCmOAN. 681 

Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan, 
That the gallantry and good conduct of Major Antoine Dequindre, and the company 
of volunteers under his command, and also of the other Michigan volunteers, at the 
battle of Monguagon, in August, eighteen hundred and twelve, are held in high 
estimation by this Legistature, and should ever be cherished in the remembrance 
of the people of the State of Michigan. 

Hesohjed, That the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions 
to Major Dequindre. 

JOHN BIDDLE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
THOMAS J. DRAKES, President of the Senate pro tern. 
Approved April 12, 1841. 

J. WRIGHT GORDON. 

(A TRUE copy.) 

THOMAS ROWLAND, Secretary of State. 

In 1809, Mr. Campau, being held in the highest esteem by all who 
knew him, was appointed Major over the militia by Governor William 
Hull. The original document, of which the following is a true copy, is 
preserved to this day: 

"William Hull, Governor of the Territory of Michigan. 

" To all to whom these presents map come : 

" Be it known that, reposing special trust in the patriotism, valor, fidelity and 
abilities of Joseph Campau, I have appointed him Major of the First Regiment of 
Militia in the Territory of Michigan, to take rank as such. He is, therefore, care- 
fully and diligently to discharge the duty of Major, by doing and performing all 
manner of things thereunto belonging; and I do strictly charge and require all offi- 
cers and soldiers under his command to be obedient to his orders as major, and he is 
to observe and follow such orders and directions from time to time as he shall 
receive from the President of the United States of America, or the Governor of the 
Territory of Michigan for the time being, or the general or other superior officers set 
over him according to law, and military rule and discipline. This commission to 
continue in force during the pleasure of the Governor of the Territory of Michigan 
for the time being. In testimony whereof I have caused these letters to be made 
patent, and the seal of the Territory of Michigan to be thereunto affixed. 

" Given under my hand at Detroit, in the Territory of Michigan, the Twenty- 
fourth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and nine, and of the Indepen- 
dence of the United States of America the thirty-third. 

[Signed] WILLIAM HULL. 

[SEAL.] 

" By the Governor, 

" Reuben Atwater, 

" Secretary Michigan Territory.'''' 

There were no blank forms used by Governor Hull in those days, and 
the above is said to be in the handwriting of the general. It was written 
just about four years after Hull's appointment to the government, and at 
a time when a bitter war with the various Indian tribes in the vicinity 
of Detroit seemed inevitable. 

Two years previous to the date of this commission, General Hull 
appointed Mr. Campau captain in the regiment over which he was after- 



682 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

wards called to act as major. Following is a true copy of the commis- 
sion, which is also from the peu of Governor Hull: 

"Terkitort of Michigan, to wit: 

" William Hull, Goverxor of the Territory of Michigan. 

" To all to whom these presents shall come : 

" Be it known that, reposing special trust and confldence in the patriotism, valor, 
fidelity and ahility of Joseph Campau, I have appointed him captain in the First 
Regiment of Militia in the Ten-itory of Michigan, to take rank from the 18th day of 
September, 1805. He is, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of 
that office, by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging; and 
I do strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under his command to be 
obedient to his orders as captain ; and he is to observe and follow such orders and 
directions as he shall from time to time receive from the President of the United 
States of America, or the Governor of Michigan for the time being, or general or 
other superior officers set over him according to law and military discipline. This 
commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the Governor of Michigan 
for the time being. In testimony whereof I have caused these letters to be made 
patent, and the seal of the Ten-itory of Michigan to be hereto affixed. 

" Given under my hand at the city of Detroit, this twelfth day of August, eighteen 

hundred and seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the 

thirty-first. 

[Signed] WILLIAM HULL. 

[SEAL.] 

" By the Governor, 

" Stanley Griswold, 
" Secretary Territory of Michigan.'''' 

Thus it will be seen that the Hon. Joseph Campau was identified with 
the militia of the Territory of Michigan, from its earliest organization, 
through most of its struggles and triumphs. In July, 1812, when the 
military forces of Detroit were astir, preparing for the march to the 
River liaisin, the following order was addressed to Major Joseph Cam- 
pau : 

" Major Joseph Campau : 

" Sir— I am directed liy the acting commander-in-chief to require you to order the 

whole of the militia of the First Regiment, residing in the upper settlement, to 

march immediately to this place, and to re-organize on the common, armed and 

equipped according to law. 

[Signed] "JAMES WATSON", 

" Lieutenant-Colonel and Aide-de-Camp. 
"Headquarters .\t Detroit, I 
" July 2, 1812." t 

A speedy termination of difficulties at the River Raisin made it unneces- 
sary for the militia to proceed to battle. Therefore, Major Campau dis- 
missed his little army until further orders calling them into action should 
be necessary. 

Although Mr. Campau rendered his State considerable service in mili- 
tary afl:airs, his greatest and most beneficial work was principally that of 
establishing and promoting the commerce of Detroit. In 1809 he 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



683 



erected, and for many years after operated a large distillery. This enter- 
prise gave profitable employment to many needy colonists, and assisted 
to inaugurate activity in manufacturing pursuits in the infant city. 
Shortly after this period his business affairs became eminently prosper- 
ous. In the same year he conducted ten branch stores in the Territory 
of Michigan. He also assisted in establishing the banking business in 
this State, being one of the original stockholders in the Territorial Bank, 
of which his nephew. General John R. Williams, was president. General 
Williams, who was the first mayor of Detroit, was also successful in 
business. As early as 1818 he operated a cabinet shop, silversmith shop, 
blacksmith shop, bakery, a butcher stall in the old market, a grist mill 
propelled by wind, a saw mill and a brick yard. At an early day Mr. 
Williams became associated with Mr. Campau in many projects, all of 
which promoted the public good not less than their own individual inter- 
ests. In 1831 they purchased the Oakland Chro?ucle, and called it the 
Democratic Free Press, thus firmly establishing the present Detroit Free 
Press, one of the leading daily journals of the northwest. In 1«85 Mr. 
Campau was an extensive stockholder in the Detroit and St. Joseph Rail- 
road, now the Michigan Central. He also aided materially in the erection 
and establishment of Detroit College, which was built in the year 1817. 

Mr. Campau's great business energy was equaled only by his benevo- 
lence. He gave his brothers and sisters, and nephews and nieces, a good 
education; many of them he sent to Montreal for that purpose, wliere 
superior educational advantages were attainable. Nor was he satisfied 
until he had secured to his brothers a profitable business education and 
established them successfully in business. In 1807 Mr. Campau sent 
Robert McNiff and John R. Williams as cadets to West Point, thus pre- 
paring these young men for the success that afterwards distinguished 
fhem as useful citizens of Detroit. 

It was his rule, on visiting Montreal or Boston, to hold out such 
inducements to mechanics and tradesmen as would secure their company 
on his return. He always furnished them with employment on their 
arrival, and in this and other ways greatly increased the population and 
business of the settlement. 

But it must not be supposed that in Mr. Campau's day it was " all work 
and no play." The little colony had its society enjoyments. These, too, 
were conducted in a real aristocratic style. They had their balls, their 
theatres, dances, and indulged in all the fashionable recreations for 
which their country is popularly known. The following is a facsimile 
of a card of invitation, written in French, sent to Mr. Campau in 1798: 



684 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

'l^J'^^O c^£^ \^^^y^ 

Military, as well as civic entertainments were encouraged. Many were 
the wine suppers and balls given by the officers of the line and staff in 
1798. These were always conducted in the Council House, which stood 
within the stockade, being the same building which Pontiac afterwards 
entered with his band of conspirators, on the memorable morning when 
his gigantic conspiracy was overthrown. The following card is an 
engraving from the original invitation received by Mr. Joseph Campau in 
1798, asking the honor of his attendance at one of these military balls: 






HISTORY OF MICHIGAK. 685 

The little town had its private theatre as early as 1819. At this date 
we find its managers bestowing their compliments upon Mr. Campau in 
the following card : 



In 1821 the little theatre was still flourishing. Mr. Stockton had 
retired from its management, and Messrs. Mackay, Davis and Brooks had 
taken his place. These gentlemen re-fitted the theatre building, and con- 
ducted it on a more popular basis. On the occasion of their grand open- 
ing in 1821, Mr. Campau was tendered the following card: 




^^^xy"-^^%^^^,j^^ 



Among his old papers still preserved are many others. The following 
is a copy of one : 



686 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

// 

Mr. Joseph Campau was a man of very liberal views. He made no 
distinction in creed or nationality, was generous and cliaritable to all 
with whom business brought him in contact. He was a man of few 
words, unassuming in manners, and a gentleman of the old school. But 
with all, he was very enterprising, and evinced great perseverance in the 
prosecution of the various projects which he undertook. An instance 
showing his force of energy is related, as follows: His esteemed friend, 
Mr. Solomon Sibley, was at one time a candidate for Circuit Judge, and 
on the day of election the opposition took possession of the polls, and 
surrounded it with bullies, for the purpose of intimidating the friends of 
Mr. Sibley. Early in the day it was ascertained that this action was 
working with great effect against him. Mr. Campau, on learning the 
state of matters, ordered four strong men to procure a large basket, and 
carry Mr. Sibley from his residence to the polling booth. The men 
obeyed his order, proceeded to Mr. Sibley's house, where he had 
remained all day, through delicacy, put him into the basket, nolens volem, 
and carried him on their shoulders to the scene of conflict. Mr. Sibley 
was triumphantly elected, and the happy result was largely due to the 
radical plans of Mr. Campau. 

He was careful to encourage all worthy enterprises. The first debating 
society in Detroit, of which he was a prominent member, held their 
meetings in his office. His old friends. General Cass, Major Biddle, 
Major Rowland, Judge John McDonnell, Major Kearsley, Judge Chip- 
man, and others, were also members of the same society, and night after 
night mingled together in the heat of debate in the little office of Joseph 
Campau. 

He ransomed many white men who had fallen into the hands of the 
cruel and treacherous Indians. On May 14, 1813, they captured an 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



687 



American by the name of James Hardan, with the view of getting a ran- 
som, and, failing in that, to liill liim. Mr. Campau, having learned the 
facts from the Indians who were passing through Detroit, on their way 
to Mackinac, and, taking compassion on the captive, opened negotia- 
tions with his persecutors, and purchased his freedom from Micksonenis, 
an Indian from Saginaw, for a considerable sum. The man gave Mr. 
Campau his note for the amount, which was never paid. This is one 
case out of many that might be related showing to what extent Mr. Cam- 
pau exerted himself for the welfare of those around him. The store 
operated by Mr. Campau was located on the homestead lot, in Detroit, 




THE JOSEPH CAMPAU RESIDENCE. 

and was used by him for mercantile purposes and also a residence, from 
1796 to the time of his death. In 1805 the house was destroyed by fire, 
and the building still standing on the old foundation, at No. 140 Jeffer- 
son avenue, was immediately erected, at a cost of $7,000. He subse- 
quently built, on the river in the rear of the homestead, a storehouse and a 
dock for the accommodation of his batteaux, of which he had several 
in the Montreal trade. The residence, which in its early days was one 
of the finest buildings on St. Ann street (now Jefferson avenue), is repre- 
sented here as one of the oldest buildings now standing in Detroit. 

Major Joseph Campau's homestead is on the lot where the headquarters 
of M. dela Motte Cadillac were originally situated. 



688 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Among other things which indicate the advanced ideas of Mr. Joseph 
Campau, was the leading position which he tools in establishing Free 
Masonry in the northwest. The following card of dimit shows his 
connection with old Zion Lodge, No. 10 : 

To whom it may concern : 

These are to certify that Brother Joseph Campau has been regularly made, passed 
and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, in due form, in late Zion Lodge, 
No. 10, of Free and Accepted Masons, and has behaved, during his stay with us, 
Zion Lodge, No. l,as becomes a true and faithful Mason, and as such we recommend 
him to all regular Lodges and Brethren throughout the world, after due trial and 
examination. 

Given under our hands and seals, in our Lodge Room, at Detroit, the first day 
[SEAL.] of May, 1809, and of Masonry 5809. 

W. H. SCOTT, Worshipful Master. 
GEO. MCDOUGALL, Senior Warden. 
James Abbott, Secretary. J. EASTMAN, Junior Warden. 

After a sojourn of nearly a century in the city of Detroit, the great 
and good pioneer passed on to join his compeers and receive the rewards 
of his Christian life. He died on the 23d of July, 1863, in the ninety- 
fifth year of his age. On the 27th of the same month he was buried, 
with Masonic honors, in Elmwood Cemetery. His funeral is said to 
have been the largest ever witnessed in Detroit. It was attended by the 
entire Masonic fraternity, the municipal officers, members of the Detroit 
bar, the Lafayette Association, and an immense concourse of citizens. 
Col. Levi Cook, Col. Dibble, Hon. Jacob M. Howard, Hon. Robert 
McClelland, Peter Desnoyers, Esq., Thomas Lewis, Esq., Hon. A. D. 
Eraser, Judge H. L. Chipman, Judge Sliubael Conant, John Palmer, 
Esq., E. B. Ward, Esq., Hon. N. B. Carpenter, John Roberts, Esq., and 
Dr. J. L. Whiting, acted as pall bearers. The Rev. Benjamin H. Pad- 
dock, of Christ Church, Detroit, preached the funeral sermon, in which 
he paid a suitable tribute to the memory of the deceased. 



GRAND RAPIDS. 



Grand Rapids is located on Grand river — the largest inland stream in 
the State — about forty miles from its mouth, and at the head of naviga- 
tion. Its site is one of great natural beauty, lying on both sides of the 
river, between the high bluifs that stand nearly two miles apart, and from 
whose summits the eye takes in a beautiful panorama of hill, vale and 
river, with all the streets of the busy city laid out like a map at the feet 
of the beholder. 

Grand Rapids contains a population (August, 1873) of 33,000, and it is 
the county seat of Kent county, which county was organized in the year 
1836. In point of population it is the second city in size next to Detroit, 
in this State, and is to Western Michigan, in point of location, business 
and influence, what the City of the Straits is to the eastern part of the 
State. 

It was incorporated in 1850, and its growth has been healthy and vigor- 
ous. The city is located on both sides of Grand river — which is 900 feet 
wide at this point, running over a fall in one mile of twenty feet of rocky 
bed— from which rapid current its name is derived. 

The river at this point runs nearly south, but soon after leaving the 
city resumes its general westerly direction. On the west side of the river 
the ground is nearly level back to the bluffs ; on the east side there were 
smaller hills between the bank and the blufl"s, the leveling of which has 
cost, and is yet to cost, large sums of money. These bluffs, which nearly 
surround the city, are being rapidly covered with elegant residences and 
substantial homes, from which beautiful views of the city are obtained 
and at a score of points. Speaking of the locality of Grand Rapids, a 
writer, as far back as 1837, in one of our city — then village — papers, used 
the following language : 

" Though young in its improvements, the site of this village has long 
been known and esteemed for its natural advantages. It was here that 
the Indian traders long since made their grand depot. It was at this 
point that the missionary herald established his institution of learning — 
taught the forest child the beauties of civilization and inestimable benefits 
of the Christian religion. This has been the choicest, dearest spot to the 
unfoi'tunate Indian, and now is the pride of the white man. Like other 
villages of the west, its transition from the savage to a civilized state has 
been as sudden as its prospects are now flattering. 
44 



690 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

"Who would have believed, to have visited this place two years since, 
when it was only inhabited by a few families, most of whom were of 
French origin, a people so eminent for exploring the wilds and meander- 
ing rivers, that this place would now contain its twelve hundred inhabi- 
tants ? Who would have imagined that this rapid would have been the 
improvement of this romantic place. The rapidity of its settlement is 
beyond the most visionary anticipation; but its location, its advantages, 
and its clime, were sufficient to satisfy the observing mind that nothing 
but the frown of Providence could blast its prospects ! 

"The river upon which this town is situated is one of the most important 
and delightful to be found in the country — not important and beautiful 
alone for its clear, silver-like water winding its way through a romantic 
valley of some hundred miles, but for its width and depth, its suscepti- 
bility for steam navigation, and the immense hydraulic power aiiorded at 
this point. 

" We feel deeply indebted to our Milwaukee friends for their lucid des- 
cription of the advantages to be derived from a connection of the waters 
of this river with those of Detroit, by canal or railroad. A canal is 
nearly completed around the rapids at this place sufficiently large to 
admit boats to pass up and down with but little detention. Several 
steamboats are now preparing to commence regular trips from Lyons, at 
the mouth of Maple river, to this place, a distance of sixty miles, and 
from this to Grand Haven, a distance of thirty -five or forty miles; thence 
to Milwaukee and Chicago. 

"Thus the village of Grand Rapids, with a navigable stream — a water 
power of twenty-five feet fall— an abundance of crude building materials 
— stone of excellent quality — pine, oak and other timber in immense 
quantities within its vicinity, can but flourish — can but be the Rochester 
of Michigan! The basement story of an extensive mill, one hundred 
and sixty by forty feet, is now completed; a part of the extensive 
machinery is soon to be put in operation. There are now several dry 
goods and grocery stores, some three or four public houses, one large 
church erected and soon to be finished in good style, upon the expense of 
a single individual, who commenced business a few years ago by a small 
traffic with tlie Indians. Such is the encouragement to western pioneers! 
The village plat is upon the bold bank of a river, extending back upon 
an irregular plain, some eighty to a hundred rods, to rising bluffs, from 
the base and sides of which some of the most pure, crystal-like fountains 
of water burst out in boiling springs, pouring forth streams that murmur 
over their pebbly bottoms, at once a delight to the eye and an invaluable 
luxury to the thirsty palate. 

"New England may surpass this place with her lofty mountains, but not 
with her greatest boast, purity and clearness of water. The soil is sandy 



692 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

and mostly dry. The town is delightful, whether yuu view it from the 
plain upon the banks of the river, or from the bluffs that overlook the 
whole surrounding country. To ascend these bluffs you take a gradual 
rise to the height of a hundred feet, when the horizon only limits the 
extent of vision. The scenery to an admirer of beautiful landscape is 
truly picturesque and romantic. Back east of the town is seen a wide- 
spread plain of burr oak, at once easy to cultivate and inviting to the 
agriculturist- Turning westward, especially at the setting of the sun, 
you behold the most enchanting prospect — the din of the ville below— 
the broad sheet of water murmuring over the rapids — the sunbeams 
dancing upon its swift gliding ripples — the glassy river at last losing 
itself in its distant meanderings, presents a scenery that awakes the most 
lively emotions. 

" It is from this point, too, that you can see in the distance the evergreen 
tops of the lofty pine waving in majesty above the sturdy oak, the beech 
and maple, presenting to the eye a wild, undulating plain, with its thou- 
sand charms. Such is the location, the beauties and the advantages of 
this youthful town. The citizens are of the most intelligent, enterprising 
and industrious character. Their buildings are large, tasty and hand- 
somely furnished — the clatter of mallet and chisel — the clink of the 
hammer — the many newly raised and recently covered frames — and the 
few skeleton boats upon the wharves of the river, speak loudly for the 
enterprise of the place! Mechanics of all kind find abundant employ, 
and reap a rich reward for their labor. Village property advances in 
value, and the prospect of wealth is alike flattering to all! What the 
result of such advantages and prospects will be, time alone must deter- 
mine. 

"But a view of this place and vicinity, where we find a rich and fertile 
soil, watered with the best of springs, and enjoying as we do a salubrious 
climate, a healthful atmosphere, and the choicest gifts of a benign Bene- 
factor, would satisfy almost any one that this will soon be a bright star 
in the constellation of western villages. Such, gentle reader, is a faint 
description of the place from which our paper hails — from which we 
hope will emanate matter as pleasing and interesting as the town is 
beautiful and inviting." 

Thirty-six years have passed away since the foregoing was written, and 
the visitor now beholds a lively, bustling and active city, full of energy 
and enterprise and doing an amount of manufacturing and mercantile 
trading truly surprising. There are three daily newspapers, the Eagle, 
Democrat and Times, representing the Republican and Democratic parties, 
and the latter Independent. There are also several weekly papers, one of 
which is printed exclusively in the Holland language. There are twenty- 
three organized churches, and some of the edifices are of a superior kind 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



693 



in point of architectural design. Tlie First Congregational is a gothic 
building, elegant in finish, costing §65,000. St. Marks, Episcopal, one 
of the old church edifices in the city, has lately been enlarged and im- 
proved at a cost of $30,000, and is one of the largest gothic edifices west 




HON. H. M. LOOK. 

Henry M Look was born at Hadley, Michigan, October 27, 1837. His 
ancestors were from Scotland, and settled on the island of Martha's 
Vineyard, in 1758. They removed thence to Massachusetts, while it was 
yet a province of Great Britain, and bore an active part in the war of 
the revolution, two members of the family losing their lives in that 
struggle — one while leading a charge at the battle of Bennington, the 
other while a prisoner of war. 

His parents were both natives of New York, and settled in the (then) 
Territory of Michigan in 1834. Having received a thorough education, 
including an extensive course of historical and classical reading, he began 
the study of law in 1857, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme 
Court of Michigan, in November, 1859, and to the Circuit Court of the 
United States, in 1867. He is still in the active and successful practice 
of his profession. 

He was a member of the legislature of Michigan in 1865 and 1866; 
prosecuting attorney for Oakland county in 1871 and 1872; city attorney 



694 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

of Detroit, in Michigan, worth $60,000. The First Methodist has a fine 
structure in the Roman style, elaborately finished and furnished, costing 
$45,000. The Baptist Society are erecting a very costly gothic church 
which will be a a superb contribution to the many beautiful houses of 
worship in the city, its estimated price, when completed, being $80,000. 
The First Presbj^terian have a very fine house, nearly completed, on the 
west side, which will cost $30,000. The Methodists have also, in this 
locality, a really handsome gothic church, almost ready, containing in its 
tower the largest bell in the city and a fine clock. Cost, $40,000. The 
Roman Catholics have a handsome gothic church done and are occupying 
it, which cost $43,000, and have another, building, for a German congre- 
gration, at an expense of $60,000. The Episcopalians have in addition 
to the parent church — St. Mark's — three chapels, while the two Holland 
churches have large and finely appointed edifices completed, one costing 
$35,000. The Westminster Presbyterian Society has a very nice church 
edifice on the east side, while the Dutch Reformed congregation is 
taking steps to build a $25,000 house. The old Catholic church of St. 
Andrew has been disposed of, and plans for a $100,000 cathedral are now 
being perfected. The Universalists have a very pretty and well finished 
and furnished church. 

The manufacturing interests of Grand Rapids are large and rapidly 
increasing. Generally, they may be summed up in three flouring, one 
woolen, fifteen saw, four plaster and other mills, three furnaces, two 
boiler factories, four tanneries, six large furniture manufactories, and a 
dozen smaller ones, three extensive chair factories, ten large cooper 
shops, six extensive carriage manufactories, ten wagon shops, one chem- 
ical works, three pail and bucket factories, one clothes pin factory, one 
gypsum ornament manufactory, several sash, door and blind shops, two 
saw manufactories, three marble and stone yards, one brush factory, 
Waters' patent barrel factory, two hub factories, two manufactories of 
farming implements, one faucet manufactory ; in fact, almost every- 

of the city of Pontiac, and member of its board of education from 1864 
to 1868 ; delegate to the national Democratic convention at Baltimore 
in 1872. 

As a speaker and writer, Mr. Look has a wide reputation. Some of his 
public addresses have commanded extraordinary approbation, and have 
been republished in the leading American and foreign journals. He is 
the author of a work upon "The Law and Practice of Masonic Trials," 
which has become a standard authority in its department througliout the 
United States. Such of his productions as he has given to the press 
have elicited an instant and universal approval, and it is to be hoped that 
his useful and powerful pen may not lie idle in the future. His merits 
as a writer consist in clearness and boldness of conception, fertility in 
expression, correctness of taste, and a remarkable grace and purity of 
style. 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 695 

thing that can be made from wood has a manufactory in this city. 
Fanning mills, milk safes, and such like useful articles are extensively 
fabricated, and all these varied industries — large numbers of which we 
have not attempted to enumerate — furnish employment for an army of 
mechanics, artisans and laborers, who are paid weekly for their skill and 
efforts in developing the city's resources. 

Upon either side of the Grand river is a canal, which furnishes a vast 
amount of power for propelling the machinery incident to the manufac- 
turing enterprises of the place, the descent in the river over the rapids 
producing a head and fall of sixteen feet ; and yet it is safe to say that 
fully one-half of the whole power used in the various departments of 
mechanical eftort in the city is made from steam. 

At this time of writing six railroads are in operation, under the control 
of some of the most extensive corporations in the country, sending out 
and receiving daily the passengers upon thirty trains of cars, while the 
immense freighting business incident to the lumber, plaster and manufac- 
turing interests are indeed great. A street railway from the Detroit and 
Milwaukee Railway has long been in operation, running through Leonard, 
Canal, Monroe and Fulton streets, and when continued to the Fair 
grounds, will be a source of great convenience. 

This year (1873) upwards of three hundred buildings of all kinds, 
including forty stores, are in process of erection, and it is one of the 
strong points of the resources of Grand Rapids that all the stone for 
paving or building, and fine yellow brick, as good as those made in Mil- 
waukee, with lime, plaster of Paris, stucco and sand, are found within 
the corporation, while the country immediately north abounds with the 
best of pine, cedar, beech, maple and other merchantable woods out of 
which lumber is made. With the exception of paint, nails and gas 
piping, the materials for an entire ordinary dwelling are to be found in 
the city, the product of the county. 

The public schools of the city are as good as the best in the State, and 
comprise one Union or High school and eight ward schools, all under 
the control 'of a Board of Education consisting of two members from 
each ward, with the Mayor, who are elected by the people. The build- 
ings occupied for school purposes are mostly of brick, and of attractive 
design, with good play grounds. There is a City Library of upwards of 
6,000 volumes, supported by fines, the result of violated ordinances; also 
a "Kent Scientific Institute," which has one of the most valuable collec- 
tions of specimens, minerals, fossils, etc., to be found in the State, and 
one which has attracted considerable attention from scientists. 

The Young Men's Christian Association is in a very flourishing state, 
and its organization has not only been efficient but exceedingly useful in 
the line of its christian duty and quiet charities. " St. Mark's Home" is 



696 GENERAL HISTORY OP TUE STATES. 

a hospital under the immediate control of some ladies of St. Mark's 
church, and has proved itself of great benefit to many, as its doors are 
open to all, without distinction of creed. The charges for board and care 
are just sufBcient to cover actual cost, for such as can pay, and to such 
as cannot and are worthy, no charge is made. 

"The Union Benevolent Society" is another charitable hospital, of a 
more enlarged character, which has been in existence for upwards of 
fifteen years. It is managed by ladies and gentlemen selected from the 
various Protestant organizations, and is incorporated. Having an eligible 
and admirably located lot, steps are now being taken towards the erection 
of a suitable building to accommodate their rapidly increasing wants. 

This city is the acknowledged metropolis of western and northwestern 
Michigan. Its location is one of admitted beauty, having a rare variety 
of hill and dale for landscape, while it is noted for its elegant residences, 
suburban villas, fine business blocks, and the air of activity and thrift 
which characterizes so many of our western towns. The United States 
have decided to erect a suitable public building here for its District 
Courts, Pension Office, U. S. Marshal's Office, Collector, Post-office, etc., 
etc., and has ordered a free postal delivery system, in accordance with a 
law of Congress passed at its last session. It should be added that during 
the season of navigation boats ply regularly on the Grand river to Grand 
Haven, and a large amount of business is transacted along the shores, 
which are dotted with thriving villages. 

The traveling public are well cared for in several hotels, which are well 
kept, though the rapid increase of population and the influx of strangers, 
attracted by the wide-spread notoriety of the place for business, demand 
increased facilities in this line, and steps are being taken towards the 
erection of more hotel room. There are two free bridges and one toll 
bridge spanning the river — which is 900 feet wide — also two railroad 
bridges. The wholesale business of Grand Rapids in groceries, boots and 
shoes, dry goods, hardware and manufactured articles from wood, is 
large and rapidly increasing. Several of its streets are paved with stone, 
while wooden pavements are now coming into general use. Owing to the 
hilly nature of a large part of the city plat and the necessity of mucli 
filling near the river, on the east side, the grading and leveling of streets 
has been a costly undertaking, but it has been accomplished during the 
ten years past at an outlay of nearly a hundred thousand dollars per 
annum. The ground forming the plat on the west side is very level, and 
calculated for a large city, backed and skirted as it is by very bold and 
delightful bluffs. Situated as Grand Rapids is, in the vicinity of a 
splendid farming, fruit, wool raising and well wooded country, it must 
continue to increase in wealth, population and intelligence, and remain 
in the future, as it is now, the second city of Michigan, and through its 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 697 

various institutions and enterprises of a business, religious and social 
nature, must do no small share in moulding the thought and giving tone 
and direction to the population which is rapidly filling up the great 
country north as far Mackinaw, and west to the shore of Lake Michigan. 
The view which we give of a portion of the city is taken from the 
Union school hill, looking south and southwest, and covering in the 
foreground portions only of the first, second and third wards, on the 
east side, and the eighth ward across the river in the distance. 



ADRIAN. 

Adrian is a beautiful and flourisliing city of "about 12,000 inliabitants, 
situated on tbe soutli brancli of tlie River Raisin, on high, rolling ground, 
in the midst of one of the richest farming districts in the State. It is 
located very nearly in the center of Lenawee county, of which it is the 
county seat. It is easy of access by rail— thirty-three miles from Toledo, 
seventy-four miles from Detroit, two hundred and ten miles from Chicago, 
and eighty-five miles from Lansing. 

The site upon which the city is built w^as located by Addison J. Com- 
stock, in 1825, and a plat of forty-nine lots, comprising a part of what 
is now the business portion of the city, was made by him, and recorded 
March 31, 1828. 

Adrian was incorporated in 1858, since which time its boundaries have 
twice been enlarged. It now covers an area of nearly three miles square, 
and has grown to be one of the most important manufacturing cities in 
the State. It is an orderly, well regulated city-;;-governed in the interest 
of economy and good order. Its present officials are Wm. H. Waldby, 
Mayor; W. H. Stone, Treasurer; F. B.'Nixon, Recorder; Simeon M. Bab- 
cock, Marshal; George L. Bachman, City Attorney; Daniel T.Anderson, 
Collector. Aldermen — First Ward — George W. Larwill, INIichael Molloy; 
Second Ward— Lorenzo Tabor, George S. Brown; Third Ward — W. T. 
Lawrence, Edward Swords ; Fourth Ward — C. H. Comstock, James 
Warner. 

The buildings of Adrian are of a superior order. It contains many 
very elegant residences, and numerous very fine public buildings. Its 
healthfulness, cleanliness, beauty and prosperity evoke universal com- 
mendation. Its church edifices are models of convenience and elegance. 
Perhaps no city in the country is better provided with churches. The 
Presbyterians, Methodist Episcopal, Cougregationalists, Baptists, Luther- 
ans and Catholics each have large brick church edifices. Other denomi- 
nations have convenient but less pretentions churches. The increasing 
importance of Adrian College is a subject of much interest. Its struggle 
to maintain itself and its final triumph command the admiration of all 
lovers of education. From a weak beginning it has grown to be one of 
the first educational institutions in the State. It is situated on a fine 
elevation in the western part of the city, overlooking it from the west. 
It has four fine brick buildings, and an endowment of $100,000. 



700 GENERAL HISTORY OP THE STATES. 

The scliool system of Adrian is unsurpassed, possessing as it does the 
most perfect facilities for bestowing upon all who may avail themselves 
of the benefits of it, an education at once the most liberal and thorough. 
The schools are admirably conducted, the corps of teachers being second 
to none in the State. The instructions are thorough and upon the broad- 
est and most liberal basis. The graduates therefrom are admitted to the 
University without examination. The school buildings consist of the 
central building, so called, erected in 1869, costing about $100,000, and 
four large branch buildings, of brick — one in each ward. 

The city is well provided with hotels, some of them ranking among 
the best in the West, affording ample accommodations of the first order. 

The Adrian Car Manufactpring Company, with a capital of $300,000, 
manufactures passenger^ and freight cars, and employs three hundred 
men. There is connected with these works one of the largest and most 
important foundries in the State, outside of Detroit and Wyandotte. 

The Illinois Manufacturing Company employs a capital of $200,000 
and one hundred and fifty men; has orders from all parts of the country, 
and is noted for the promptness and dispatch with which it fills them. 
It manufactures all kinds of car trimmings and brass fittings. 

The Adrian Paper Mill Company manufactures wrapping and print 
paper; has a capital of $75,000, and employs fifty men. 

The Adrian Hand Car Company, recently organized, manufactures an 
improved hand car, and has orders from all parts of the country. 

There are three first class flouring mills here in successful operation, 
two of them being run by water and one by steam. 

Boots and shoes, carriages and furniture are manufactured for the 
wholesale trade to a considerable extent. 

There is about to be established a file manufactory, also a factory for 
the manufacture of all kinds of wooden-ware, which will furnish employ- 
ment for a considerable number of men. 

Adrian has four banks — First National, formerly Waldby's Bank of 
Adrian, long and successfully conducted by Wm. H. Waldby, the present 
Mayor of the city; W. H. Stone & Co., private bankers; Lenawee County 
Savings Bank, and the Adrian Savings Bank. 

The Michigan State Insurance Company, located here, is one of the 
best insurance companies in the State. It is doing a large business, and 
is perfectly reliable. 

The "first newspaper was published here October 22, 1834, called the 
Leiiawee Republican and Adrian Gazette^ afterwards the Watchtmcer, R. W. 
Inglass, proprietor. 

In 1865, a portion of the WaicJitower establishment was purchased by 
General Wm. Humphrey, now Auditor-General of the State, and he, in 
conjunction with T. S. Applegate, one of the owners of the Watchtower, 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 701 

established the Adrian Daily Times, which took the place of the Watch- 
tower. 

The Adrian Expositor was established in 1843, and was consolidated 
with the Times in 1866. The Times and Expositor is ably conducted by- 
its present proprietors, Messrs. Applegate & Fee, and has a large circula- 
tion daily and weekly. 




HON: J. W. GORDON. 

J. Wright Gordon was lieutenant-governor of Michigan during the 
administration of Governor Woodbridge, and upon the resignation of 
the latter gentleman to accept a seat in the United States Senate, Mr. 
Gordon became acting governor. He was a gentleman of high character 
and ability, and was at one time the regular Whig candidate for United 
States Senator; but was defeated by a combination of Whigs and Demo- 
crats in the legislature. After leaving the public service, his health 
became impaired, and he visited South America. He died at Pernam- 
buco, from the effects of a fall from a balcony, in December, 1853. 



702 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

The Press (daily and weekly), recently established by William A. 
Whitney, is receiving an extensive patronage, and is also ably conducted. 

The Journal is issued every Friday morning, and has a circulation 
throughout the county. Japheth Cross, proprietor. 

The Adrian Auzeiger is a German paper of modest pretensions, well 
managed by Messrs. Lohmann & Son, and well patronized by the German 
population of the city and county. 

Adrian has a very efficient and well ordered paid Fire Department — 
two steam fire engines, one Babcock self-acting fire engine, one hand 
engine, and one hook and ladder company. The department employs 
fifty men. The apparatus is of the best class, and comfortable and elegant 
brick engine houses afibrd quarters for the men and horses employed, the 
city owning the teams used. 

The Mineral Springs, connected with the hotel by that name, located in 
the western part of the paved district, are pronounced by chemists, and 
show by analysis, to be possessed of excellent medicinal properties. 
They are well patronized, with the best results. The bath and hotel 
accommodations are of the first order. 

There are a number of other mineral springs in the city— one located 
between Adrian College and the business portion of the city, on the 
premises of J. J. Newell, Esq., which has recently been analyzed, and pro- 
nounced a very superior and healthful beverage. Besides being possessed 
of excellent curative powers, it is cold and exceedingly palatable. One on 
the premises of Colonel J. H. Wood, in the southern portion of the city, 
is also rapidly increasing in favor. It is located in a beautiful spot and 
is attracting much notice. There are others of more or less merit in 
different parts of the city. A large number of strangers, from all sections 
of the country, visit Adrian for the purpose of enjoying the benefits of 
these springs and the healthful atmosphere of the place. The influx of 
these visitors is so large that the hotels and boarding houses of the city, 
heretofore affording ample accommodations, are filled to their utmost 
capacity, and the erection of new buildings for the especial purpose of 
accommodating those who come here to recreate and restore themselves 
to health and vigor is contemplated. 

Adrian has several parks, the most important of which is Monument 
Square, in which is located the Soldiers' Monument. The monument 
consists of an Italian marble shaft, thirty feet high, surmounting a base, 
twenty feet high, built of cut stone. 

The Adrian Gas Light Company was organized in 1856, with a capital 
of $50,000, since which time the works have been enlarged and the capi- 
tal stock increased. 

The Young Men's Christian Association, and the Ladies' Library Asso- 
ciation, deserve mention. The former has a free reading-room, supplied 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



703 



with the best papers and magazines of the day, and is doing much good 
in the city. The latter possesses one of the finest miscellaneous libraries 
in the State, consisting of about two thousand volumes of choice works. 
Much interest is taken in horticulture and in ornamenting the homes 
of the city with shrubs and flowers. There is a horticultural society 
maintained here, which does much to create and foster a proper spirit of 




'Ai§$^ 



HON. WM. L. GREENLY. 

William L. Greenly was born at Hamilton, Madison county. New 
York, September 18, 1813; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, in 
1831; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1834. In 1836, he 
settled in Adrian, Michigan, where he has since resided. The _year fol- 
lowing, he was elected State senator, and served in that capacity until 
1839. In 1845, he was elected lieutenant-governor of the State, and 
became acting governor by the resignation of Governor Felch, who was, 
in February, 1847, elected to the United States Senate. Governor Greenly 
is a gentleman of high character and attainments, and during his official 
career served the State with great acceptability. 



704 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

emulation. Adrian is one of the best ornamented cities in the State, and 
is beautifully shaded with maple and elm trees. 

Oakwood Cemetery, situated in the northeast portion of the city, on 
the east bank of the River Raisin, is one of nature's most beautiful land- 
scapes—is laid out in the best style — is ornamented and beautified with 
that taste and solemn elegance becoming the sacred city of the dead. It 
is indeed a beautiful and hallowed spot. Here solemnity and beauty 
associate in harmonious combination. 

Situated as Adrian is — upon the main line of the Lake Shore ajid Michi- 
gan Southern Railway, at its junction with the Jackson and Detroit 
branches, with fair prospects of the speedy completion of the Adrian 
and Detroit Railroad with its connections, making a grand trunk line 
between the East and Southwest, with a good market, for which it has 
justly been noted since the completion of the Erie and Kalamazoo Rail- 
road to this point in 1836, with its large and constantly increasing manu- 
facturing interests, the rich farming country surrounding it, the beauty 
and healthfulness of its location, its superb schools and the general intel- 
ligence of its people — it has a grand future before it. 

The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway company employs 
three hundred men in its repair and car building shops here, which shops 
are located in the immediate vicinity of the works of the Adrian Car 
Manufacturing Company. City lots, convenient to these shops, have 
been laid out and platted, affording mechanics an excellent opportunity 
to provide for themselves comfortable homes. 

Fine building lots, in other portions of the city, can be purchased on 
very easy terms at comparatively low prices. No city in the State affords 
better opportunities or offers better inducements to those desirous of pro- 
curing houses, whether they wish to engage in business or retire from 
the active pursuits of life to educate their children, or to enjoy the 
society of an educated and intelligent people. 




45 



DETROIT. 



In precediug chapters of this work, we have given the incidents con- 
nected with the history of Detroit more in detail than space will allow 
at this place. It is our purpose in this sketch to follow, very briefly, the 
outline of its history, and then to notice its growth, improvements and 
future prospects. 

Established in 1701, by the French, Fort Detroit soon came into rivalry 
with its older and distant sister, Michilimackinac. Previous to the date 
mentioned, the latter place had been regarded as the central western out- 
post of New France, but the establishment of a fort and trading post 
on the Detroit river drew largely from that place. Its advantages in 
climate, government and the liberality of its commandant were all that 
was needed to divert the tide of settlement from Michilimackinac. 

Three years after the establishment of Fort Detroit, the English 
influenced the Indians to set fire to the town, which was, however, but 
partially destroyed. 

In 1712, the Fox Indians made a desperate attempt to destroy it, but 
after a bold and determined siege of nineteen days, they were repulsed 
with great loss. 

In 1749, the settlement was extended by emigrants sent out at the 
expense of the French government, but the policy of the new command- 
ant was such as to prevent the rapid growth of the town. 

In 1763, Fort Detroit, with all Canada, was transferred to the British 
Crown. This change was not only distasteful to the French settlers at 
Detroit, but to the Indians in the surrounding country, who had learned 
to respect and love their "brothers, the French." This savage dissatis- 
faction, goaded on by the French, resulted in what is known to history 
as the Pontiac war, a full account of which has already been given in 
this work. 

In 1796, the American army entered Detroit. The British had pre- 
viously left the town, and their authority was thus peacefully transferred 
to the United States. 

The Territory of Michigan was organized in 1805, at which date Gen- 
eral William Hull was appointed its first Governor. He formed a gov- 
ernment at Detroit, in July of that year. The town of Detroit had been 
entirely destroyed by fire a short time previous, and now advantage was 




SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHUBUH, DETROIT. 



708 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

taken of this circumstance to widen the streets and lay out the future 
city on an entirely new and enlarged plan. 

The growth of Detroit, for many years, depended on the fur trade and 
the disbursement of public moneys. There w'as yet needed that impulse 
which is only produced by the settlement of the surrounding country. 

The old town of Detroit was situated a little west of the heart of the 
present city of Detroit and was built entirely of wood. The streets were 
narrow, and the place presented a rude, uninviting appearance. 

Passing on from 1805 to 1815, we find the "new town" or city of 
Detroit considerably improved. It had one commodious dock, called the 
"public wharf." It consisted of a pier, formed by a crib of logs, filled 
in with stone and gravel. It was about one hundred and fifty feet from 
the shore, with which it was connected by a bridge, or plank-way. All 
vessels, whether public or private, were then accustomed to load and 
unload at tliis wharf. The rest of the water front was in a state of 
nature. A second wharf was built in 1826. 

There were six or seven stores, for general business, in the town at this 
date, but not a vessel which then navigated the lakes was owned in 
Detroit. 

The military grounds were occupied by Fort Shelby and the Infantry 
cantonment. This fort was erected in 1777, by Major Le Noult, the 
British commander, and was thrown down in 1837. The cantonment 
was built in 1815, occupying nearly the whole square between Fort 
Wayne, Lafayette and Cass' line. It consisted of a group of log build- 
ings about one hundred feet long. The court room used in 1834 was, in 
1820, used by the court-martial, and as the dancing hall of the can- 
tonment. 

Tlie city of Detroit was incorporated by an act passed by the Governor 
and judges, on the 4th of October, 1815. By this act the municipal 
authority was invested in five trustees, a secretary, an assessor, a collec- 
tor and a city marshal, who were to .be chosen on the first day of May, 
annually, by the householders of the city, paying an annual rent of forty 
dollars. 

General John R. Williams was elected the first mayor of Detroit, in 
1824, and in 1836, the legislature passed an act extending the limits of the 
city. This opened the way for that influx of immigration and advance- 
ment of commercial enterprise which has made Detroit a great city. 

Until 1827, Detroit was the only municipal corporation in the Territory 
of Michigan, and at that time it contained a population of about two 
thousand souls, which was about one-tenth of the population of the Ter- 
ritory. Even at that late date, the city was but little else than a military 
and fur trading post. The inhabitants were principally native French, 
with a few families from the eastern States. Then only three or four 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 



709 



steamboats a week arrived in Detroit; now a craft of some nature passes 
it every six minutes on an average, and nearly all the steamers on the 
upper and lower lakes make it a stopping point. Then there were but 
four wharves at which vessels could unload; now its docks extend for 
miles on the river front. Then there were but three turnpike roads lead- 
ing from Detroit; now there are plank roads and railroads in almost every 




CITY HALL, DETROIT. 

direction. Then the eastern mail arrived once a week; now we have four 
mails from that quarter daily, and the telegraph wires extend to all points 
in America and Europe. The latter means of communication was 
opened to Detroiters on the tirst day of March, 1848. 

Among those institutions whose growth has rendered Detroit famous 
in the nation, may justly be mentioned the public schools. It is true that 
the schools of Detroit — where every child in the city can obtain the 
elements of a good English education free of charge— are the pride and 
boast of the city. The free public schools were first established in 1842. 
But little interest had been manifested in the subject of education pre- 
vious to this date, and the citizens of Detroit are indebted to Dr. Zina 



710 GENERAL nISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Pitcher for the first step towards establishing a general system of educa- 
tion. While mayor, in 1841, he called the attention of the common 
council to the great need of public schools in the city; and a report was 
subsequently made to that body, showing that there were twenty-seven 
English schools, one French and one German school. The whole num- 
ber of pupils reported was about seven hundred, while there were over 
two thousand children of school-age in the city. 

Measures wei'e then taken for the establishment of common schools, 
and, in a short time, seven new schools were opened. In 1842, the Legis- 
lature passed an act incorporating the schools of the city into one 
district, under the charge of the Board of Education of the city of 
Detroit. Since that date, this board has had the management of the 
school system, which, to the credit of its several members, is one of the 
most efficient in the United States. 

The first house for public worship erected in Detroit, was built by the 
Roman Catholics, in 1733. This building stood on the present site of 
Jefierson avenue, and directly opposite the Masonic Hall. It was, of 
course, destroyed by the fire of 1805. The Cathedral of St. Ann was 
commenced in 1817, by the Rev. Gabriel Richard, but was not completed 
until 1832. 

The Methodists organized a society in Detroit in 1812, and the Episco- 
pal society was organized in 1824. The first Presbyterian church was 
organized in 1825, and the society erected a church on the corner of 
Woodward avenue and Larned street as early as 1826. This building 
was destroyed by fire in 1854. 

The Second Presbyterian church was organized in 1849, with the Rev. 
R. R. Kellogg as pastor. The membership of this church then consisted 
of only twenty-six members. Public worship was held in the old capitol 
building until April 7, 1850, when the society took possesion of their new 
edifice, on the corner of Lafayette and Wayne streets. There they con- 
tinued until November 18, 1855, when they removed to their present 
place of worship, with one hundred and sixty-seven members. 

In the month of February of the same year, Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, 
then of Waterford, New York, was called to the vacant pastorate, which 
he still (1873) occupies. 

In the spring of 1860, it was determined by the trustees to go forward 
with sundry extensive improvements upon the church edifice, long con- 
templated, and felt to be essential to the completion of the original 
design. The work was begun in July, 1870, and completed within the 
year, the re-opening and re-dedication services being held January 1st, 
1871. 

From corner stone to cornice, the whole building was remodeled and 
refitted, especially as to its interior, furnished with black walnut pews 
and pulpit and a crescent gallery, and also with carpets and cushions. 




FOKT STREET, DETROIT. 



712 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Space, in this late stage of our work, will not admit of mention of the 
multitude of useful institutions now existing in the city. The most 
important is the House of Correction, which is an honor to Detroit. 

The Detroit City Hall — an engraving of which is presented here — is 
one of the finest and most substantial edifices owned by any munici- 
pality of equal population in America. 

But Detroit is not alone indebted to artificial and architectural accom- 
plishments for its magnificence. Nature, in her munificence, has bestowed 
her beauties with a free hand. This is noticeable in the view of Fort 
street, here presented. 

The present condition of the city, in a commercial point as in all 
others, is most satisfactory. The numerous extensive manufactories 
attest its steady growth; and the volume of its commerce, which is becom- 
ing broader and more profitable year by year, is a safe guarantee of its 
future greatness. 




HON. WILLIAM C. DUNCAN. 

William Chamberlaln Duncan was born in Lyons, New York, on 
the 18th of May, 1820. His father's family removed from Lyons to Roch- 
ester, New York, when he was about five years of age. In the latter city 
his younger years were spent, and he received there the advantage of an 
ordinary common school education. At the age of twenty one, desiring 
to engage in some employment for himself which might lead him into 
active business, he accepted the position of steward on one of the passen- 
ger steamers then plying on the lakes, and remained in this employ- 
ment until 1846, when he became engaged in a similar occupation extend- 
ing up Lake Superior. 



714 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Any one familiar with the vast commerce which is now seen upon Lake 
Superior, and the almost countless craft that course its waters, and who 
know Mr. Duncan, still a young man, will find it difficult to realize that 
he was present, and engaged in the enterprise of taking the "Julia 
Palmer," the first side-wheel steamer that ever floated on Lake Superior, 
across the portage at the Sault Ste. Marie. 

In the year 1849 Mr. Duncan became a permanent resident of Detroit, 
and engaged in the business of a brewer and malster. Detroit was 
then a comparatively small city, and Mr. Duncan has " grown with its 
growth." 

He brought into business life great personal activity, strict devotion to 
his chosen pursuit, prudence and sagacity, and energy which was never 
relaxed. These qualities secured him success, and enabled him to lay 
the foundation of what has since become an ample fortune. 

Mr. Duncan early attracted to himself the esteem of his fellow-citizens, 
and w^as pointed out as a suitable candidate for political preferment. 
He was elected an alderman in the year 1853, and served in that position 
for five years. He was the first president of the Common Council after 
that office was created by an amendment of the city charter. Mr. Dun- 
can was always a Democrat, and his personal popularity and his services 
in the city council led to his nomination in 1861 for the office of mayor. 
To this post he was triumphantly elected, and served during the years 

1862 and 1863. His administration was distinguished for his careful 
attention to city affairs, his rigid honesty and frugality, and his particular 
efforts and influence in favor of the war for the Union. In the fall of 

1863 he was chosen as a State senator from the second district, and filled 
that office during the years 1863 and 1864. 

In 1865 Mr. Duncan retired from active business, his impaired health 
requiring that he should enjoy more recreation and rest. Since that time 
he has given his attention to the management of his large estate, is a 
director in financial corporations, has visited Europe twice, and is enjoy- 
ing the fruits of a youth and manhood of business energy and enterprise. 

He manifests a deep interest in the welfare and prosperity of Detroit, 
and his fellow citizens have not ceased to honor him by calling into pub- 
lic employment his intelligence and forecast. In the spring of 1873, 
upon the organization of the board of estimates, a body which has a large 
control of the municipal expenditures, he was chosen a member at large. 
In the fall of 1873 the unanimous voice of his party selected him a second 
time as its candidate for the maj'oralty, but the condition of his health 
compelled him to decline the nomination. 

Mr. Duncan is a notable example of the sound and practical business 
qualities which lead to success, and of the personal habits and character 
which secure and retain public esteem. 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 715 

His energy, perseverance, integrity, and cordial manners, early gave 
him a high place in the community in which he has lived. By these 
qualities and habits he has been able to build up his fortune and estab- 
lish his position in society. 

His popularity is not exhausted, and, as he is still in the prime of life, 
it is the hope of all who know him that liis health may be spared for the 
higher duties in business and political life, to which his fellow-citizens 
are sure to summon him. 




HON. W. W. WHEATON. 

The subject of our sketch, the Hon. Wm. W. Wheaton, of Detroit, is 
an example of what can in the United States be accomplished without 
extrinsic aid or influence when ability, energy and ambition are united 
with perseverance and determination to succeed. 

Mr. Wheaton was born in New Haven, Conn., on the 5th of April, 
1833, and is therefore now only in his fortieth year. Yet he has for 
twenty years been a prominent wholesale merchant, most of the time 
at the head of a firm; has been at the head of the city government of 
Detroit as Mayor for four years, and has been chairman of the Demo- 
cratic State Central Committee for two years. In the fall of 1866 he ran 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 717 

for Senator for the Second District of Micliigan and was only defeated 
by twelve votes, and he was twice elected Mayor. It is rarely that mer- 
cantile, official and political prominence have been secured so early in 
life witliout any strong outside influences to aid in attaining them. 

Mr. Wheaton's parents were only in moderate circumstances. When 
he was but ten years old his father died. He obtained a common school 
education by working for his board and schooling. He was preparing 
for college under the late Judge Simeon Baldwin, of New Haven, when 
he was offered a situation in the mercantile establishment of C. H. Nor- 
thum & Co., of Hartford. He remained with them four years, laying 
the foundation of business qualifications that have since secured him 
his success. He then removed to Detroit and entered into business for 
himself in the firm of Farrand & Wheaton, and subsequently at the head 
of the firm of Wheaton, Leonard & Burr, and Wm. W. Wheaton & Co. 
He has accumulated a fine property from no capital but business capacity 
and able management. He is at the present time the treasurer and 
general agent of the Marquette and Pacific Rolling Mill Company of 
Marquette, which represents $500,000, and is owned mostly in Detroit. 
He has been successful as an official through incorruptibility and atten- 
tion to his duties. He has acquired prominence as a politician through 
his knowledge of men, his frankness, his energy and his independence of 
individual or selfish influences. 



FLINT. 

The city of Flint, the county seat of Genesee county, is beautifully 
located upon the banks of the Flint river, and is about equidistant 
between Saginaw and Pontiac. Its present population is about 10,000, 
and it is a town of no inconsiderable business. Located in the center of 
a rich agricultural county, numbering about 40,000 inhabitants, the 
growth of the city has never been rapid and spasmodic, but certain and 
healthy. 

Mr. Jacob Smith was the first white settler, having removed here soon 
after the treaty was concluded with the Indians at Saginaw in 1819. Mr. 
Smith had but few white neighbors before his death, and it was not until 
about the years 1828 and 1830 that the place could be called "fairly 
started." Among the first settlers, may be mentioned the names of 
Lyman Stow, Rufus W. Stevens, John Todd, R. F. Stage, D. S. Freeman, 
L D. Wright, G. and R. Bishop, L. G. Biskford, C. S. Payne, T. B. W. 
Stockton, Charles C. Hascall, H. M. and I. Henderson, Wm. Moon. 

About the year 1834, a land office was established here for the sale of 
lands in the Saginaw district, and General C. C. Hascall was appointed 
receiver and Michael Hoftman register. Political changes taking place, 
these gentlemen were succeeded by George M. Dewey, as receiver, and 
E. B. Witherbee, as register, and who in their turn were succeeded by R. 
Bishop, as receiver, and Wm. M. Fenton, as register, who held their 
appointments until the office was removed to Saginaw, in the year 1858. 

PUBLIC BUILBINGS. 

The Asylum for the Deaf, the Dumb and the Blind was located here by 
the legislature of 1847. The building is one in which the people of the 
State may take a just pride. The site was donated to the State by Colonel 
T. B. W. Stockton. Hon. I. B. Walker was the resident commissioner 
until his declination in 1872, when W. L. Smith was appointed as his suc- 
cessor. The institution is at present in a highly flourishing condition 
under the management of Professor E. L. Bangs. It has a general attend- 
ance of 150 students. 

The Court House and City Hall are creditable structures. 

RAILROADS. 

The Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad passes through the city, opening 
a direct line of communication to all points north and south. The Port 



720 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Huron and Lake Michigan Railroad liaving lately been consolidated with 
the Peninsula Railroad, extending from Lansing to Valparaiso, in Indiana, 
secures the early completion of the road from Flint to Lansing — the new 
organization taking the name of "The Chicago and Lake Huron Railroad 
Company." This road will, when finished, be of great advantage to the 
people of the Northwest, and will constitute the shortest route from 
Chicago to the sea-board. 

SCHOOLS. 

Flint has vied with its sister cities of the State in its educational facili- 
ties. A central " Union school" building is now being erected at a cost 
of $100,000, which will be one of the finest school buildings in the State. 
Professor Tumsdell now stands at the head and supervises the educa- 
tional interests of the city, and students are admitted to the University 
upon his certificate without further examination. 

LIBRARIES. 

The only public library in the city is that of the " Ladies' Library 
Association," organized in 1851, and which is the pioneer or "mother 
association " of the hundreds of similar ladies' library associations now 
in the full tide of successful and useful operation, not only in Michigan, 
but in neighboring States. The plan of this " peculiar institution " origi- 
nated with Mrs. R. W. Jenny, who wrote its constitution and by-laws, 
and under which Mrs. Colonel Stockton was chosen its first president. It 
owns a large and valuable circulating library. 

Colonel E. H. Thompson has one of the largest and best private libra- 
ries in the State. 

The "Flint Scientific Institute," pioneered by Dr. Daniel Clarke, Dr. 
Manly Miles, Hon. F. H. Rankin, Hon. E. H. Thompson, and others, is 
one of the best of its kind. It has a rare and valuable collection for the 
study of the naturalist and the scientist. 

BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 

One commandery Knights Templar; one chapter Royal Arch Masons; 
two lodges F. & A. M. ; two lodges L O. O. F. ; one lodge L O. G. T. ; St. 
Michael's Benevolent Society. 



Her banks are the First National, Citizens' National, and the Genesee 
County Savings Bank. 

Flint has also a Riding Park Association; an excellent Brass Band, 
under charge of Professor G. I. H. Gardner; a military company — " The 
Flint Union Blues." 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 721 



NEWSPAPERS. 

There are three weekly newspapers. The Wolverine Citizen, published 
and edited by F. H. Rankin; the Globe, by A. L. Aldrich (both Republi- 
can), and the Oenesee Democrat, by Jenny & Fellows. 

CHURCHES. 

Two Methodist, one Presbyterian, one Episcopal, one Baptist, one Con- 
gregational, one German Evangelical, one Catholic. The new Episcopal 
church is not excelled in architectural design and beauty by any in the 
State. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

The manufacture of lumber has contributed largely to the prosperity 
of the city. There are ten steam saw mills, of usual capacity, besides 
planing mills, two woolen mills, three foundries, etc., giving employment 
to a large force of workmen. 

Among the recent improvements in the city have been the sinking of 
two artesian wells, by the city council, and the erection of the Holly 
Water Works, by A. McFarlan, Esq., on his premises, for the protection 
of his saw mill and lumber yard from fire. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The city charter was granted by the legislature in 1855. G. Decker 
was chosen the first mayor. The subsequent mayors were Hons. R. I. S. 
Page, Porter Hazelton, E. S. Williams, H. M. Henderson, Wm. Paterson, 
S. M. Axford, W. B. McCreery, Wm. M. Fenton, Wm. Hamilton, A. B. 
Witherbee, Wm. S. Patrick, H. H. Crapo, I. B. Walker, D. S. Fox, and 
the popular and efficient incumbent, Hon. George H. Durand. 

Many of the early settlers and prominent professional and business 
men of Flint have died within the past few years, among whom may be 
mentioned the names of Governor H. H. Crapo, Governor Fenton, Hon. 
H. M. Henderson, Hon. A. B. AVitherbee, Hon. A. P. Davis, Hon. C. P. 
Avery, Hon. Levi Walker, General C. C. Hascall, B. Pierson, James Hen- 
derson, Esqrs., and Rev. Daniel E. Brown. While their bodies repose in 
the glades of our beautiful Glenwood, the memory of their worth and 
virtues will be enshrined in the memories of those permitted to "linger 
behind." 

" Give them the meed they have won in the past^ 
Give them the honors their future forecast." 

46 




HON. ALEXANDER H. MORRISON. 

AiiEXANDEU Hamilton Morrison, of St. Joseph, Michigan, projector 
and builder of the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad, and its 
vice-president and general manager, was born in the Province of Quebec, 
Canada, February 22, 1822. At the age of fifteen, he was engaged as clerk 
for B. W. Smith, now sherifl:' of Simcoe, Ontario, and with him came 
West in 1838, arriving at Chicago in October of that year, when Chicago 
contained less than four thousand inhabitants. Here he entered the 
employ of David Ballentine, Esq., then a contractor on the Illinois and 
Michigan Canal, and remained with him as clerk for several years. At 
the age of nineteen, he engaged in active business on his own account. 

In 1847, 1848 and 1849, Mr. Morrison was engaged as a contractor on 
public works in Illinois and Iowa. In 1850, he came to St. Joseph, where 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN. 723 

he has since resided and been connected in extensive business as a mer- 
chant and lumberman, until he engaged in the railroad enterprise which 
now occupies his attention. 

The Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad, of which Mr. Morri- 
son is the projector, builder and successful general manager, extends 
from New Buffalo on the Michigan Central to Pentwater, which is the 
main line — a distance of one hundred and seventy miles — with a branch 
of twenty-five miles from Holland to Grand Rapids, and another branch 
from Muskegon to Big Rapids of fifty-five miles, making in all two hun- 
dred and fifty miles of road. 

Considering the difficulties encountered in consequence of the decision 
of the supreme court, declaring void all municipal aid voted to help con- 
struct railways, together with the fact that the road was built through a 
new country, sparsely populated, which would not have been undertaken 
without the encouragement the law of 1869 proposed, the success of the 
enterprise, in both its completion and management, entitles to the projector 
and builder to an amount of praise for commercial sagacity, foresight and 
economy in all the details of construction and management, seldom 
awarded to men of these times, and which to him, in his declining years, 
will be a great source of consolation and pride. 

Mr. Morrison, while engaged in extensive business, has at the same 
time given some attention to politics and been the recipient of political 
honors, and seen much of public life for a man of his years, now only 
fifty-two. 

In 1851, he was chairman of the board of supervisors of Berrien 
county. In 1852, he was a candidate for presidential elector on the 
Whig ticket. In 1856, he was elected to the Senate of this State. In 
1860, he was elected to the house of representatives and was chairman of 
the committee on State affairs for three sessions, and during that time was 
one of the special joint committee on war matters, of which Hons. Jas. 
F. Joy, H. P. Baldwin and Thomas D. Gilbert were members. To the 
members of that committee must be awarded the honor of successfully 
projecting that policy which at the end of the war found the State unin- 
cumbered with a war debt. The individual members of that committee 
were also foremost in sustaining a policy not less important, inaugurated 
by Mr. Joy at the first session of the legislature of 1861, for the establish- 
ment of a sinking fund, which, in 1881, will find the State entirely out 
of debt. 

In 1863, Mr. Morrison was appointed, by President Lincoln, collector 
of internal revenue for the second district of Michigan, and, in 1867, 
assessor of internal revenue for the same district, which office he held 
until June, 1869, when he resigned to enter upon the railroad project, of 
which mention is made above. 



724 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

Mr. Morrison belongs to one of the pioneer families of the western 
country who were Indian traders in the Lake Superior country in the 
latter part of the last century and the first part of this. His father was 
a member of the old Northwestern Fur Company, and one of the few part- 
ners in that company that refused to surrender to, and successfully resisted 
Lord Selkirk, in his war made upon it in the interest of the Hudson Bay 
Company, immediately after the late war with Great Britain. His guar- 
dian, in his boyhood, and under whose care he was educated, was his 
friend and relative — the late William Morrison — the discoverer of the 
sources of the Mississippi river, from whom he obtained a knowledge of 
pioneer life in the beginning of this century by hearing him relate 
adventures that to the young have a charm that is irresistible. 

Mr. Morrison ascribes his late success to his business coimection with 
the Hon. James F. Joy, the great railroad magnate of the Northwest, to 
whom he always gives the entire praise. Be that as it may, the people of 
Michigan will always remember the subject of this sketch as one of her 
distinguished characters ; and the people of the town of St. Joseph and 
Berrien county, as its most prominent, widely known and ambitious 
business man, who for nearly twenty-five years has maintained a spotless 
reputation as a merchant and railroad manager. 




HON. JOHN S. HORNER. 

John Scott Horner was bora at WaiTenton, Fouquier county, Vir- 
ginia, on the 5th day of December, 1802. He was the third son of Dr. 
Gustavus Brown Horner, assistant surgeon, and nephew of Dr. Gustavus 
Brown, Surgeon-General of the Revolutionary Army. His ancestors 
were English and resided in Yorkshire, near Ripon. His paternal grand- 
father emigrated to the State of Maryland at an early day, and went into 



726 GENERAL HtSTORY OP THE STATES. 

business as a wholesale importing merchant. He was a near relative of 
Sir Francis Horner. The subject of this sketch graduated in 1819 at 
Washington College, Pennsylvania, and practiced law in Virginia until 
September, 1835. On the 9th day of that month he was appointed by 
President Jackson, Secretary and Acting Governor of the Territory of 
Jlichigan, inclusive of the Territories of Wisconsin and low^a. As chief 
executive of the Territory, Governor Horner did much to allay the hos- 
tile feeling then existing between the people of the Territory and of the 
State of Ohio in reference to the boundary question. Subsequently he 
was appointed Secretary of the Territory of Wisconsin, and received 
orders from President Jackson to take up his quarters near the Missis- 
sippi river, in order to meet the apprehended diflBculty between the Win- 
nebago Indians and the settlers in the mineral region of Wisconsin. On 
his arrival he learned that that tribe were besieging Fort Winnebago. 
Taking with him a single guide he made a perilous journey of eighty 
miles to Fort Crawford, called upon General Taylor for a force of one 
hundred and twenty men, and with them proceeded to the relief of Fort 
Winnebago. Arriving there he demancled a council with the Indians, 
and received a reply from the chiefs that they were " falling to pieces" 
from starvation, owing to the non-payment of the annuities due from the 
United States. Upon learning this Governor Horner promptly took the 
responsibility of issuing an order to deliver to the starving Indians one- 
half the pork and flour in the military stores of the fort. This action 
prevented an Indian war, and was highly approved by General Jackson ; 
and Congress passed an act granting one thousand dollars to Governor 
Horner as a recognition of his services. 

As secretary of the Territory of Wisconsin, his career was distinguished 
by ability and integrity, and he received many evidences of the confi- 
dence of the people and of the general government. After his retirement 
from this office, he was appointed by President Jackson register of the 
Green Bay land office, and by successive appointments by Presidents 
Van Buren and Tyler, held the position for thirteen years. He has also 
served for four years as probate judge for the counties of Green Lake 
and Marquette, in the State of Wisconsin. 

Governor Horner now resides in the beautiful and flourishing city of 
Kipon, Wisconsin, a city which he founded, and to which he gave its 
name, in compliment to the home of his ancestors in England. 

Early in life. Gov. Horner distinguished himself by his advocacy of 
slave emancipation, and the records of the Virginia courts show many 
evidences of his success as an advocate for slaves suing for their freedom. 
This sincerity in the cause was proved by his promptitude in freeing the 
slaves descended to him from his father's estate. This act was performed 
soon after his coming of age — an act as rare as it was commendable at 
that early day. 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN. 727 

Gov. Horner is still in the enjoyment of vigorous health, the result of 
temperance and daily active exercise. His life has been an active one, 
and his official career has been distinguished by ability and strict integrity, 
and in his dignified retirement he enjoys the results of a well-spent life — 
health, competence, and troops of friends. 




HON. ALPHEUS FELCH. 

Alphetjs Felch was born at Limerick, York county, Maine, Septem- 
ber 28, 1806; graduated at Bowdoin College, and adopted the law as a 
profession. When quite young he emigrated to Michigan, and was 
elected in 1836 to the State Legislature, and reelected in 1837. In 1838 
he was appointed Bank Commissioner, and resigned that office in 1839. 
For a short time in 1842 he was Auditor-General, but relinquished that 
position for a seat on the Supreme bench of the State. He was elected 
Governor of Michigan in 1845, and resigned in 1847 to accept a seat in the 



728 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

United States Senate, in which capacity he served a term of six years. 
He was appointed by President Pierce one of the commissioners to settle 
land claims in California, under the Act of Congress, and the Treaty of 
Guadalupe Hidalgo, in March, 1853. The business of this Commission 
was closed by disposing of all the cases before it in March, 1856. In 1864 
he was a delegate to the Chicago Convention. Since the close of his 
official career Governor Felch has lived in retirement at Ann Arbor. 
His official career has been marked by the strictest integrity, and he has 
ever enjoyed the entire confidence of the people whom he has so long 
and honorably served. 




HON. KINSLEY S. BINGHAM. 

Kinsley Scott Bingham was born in Camillus, Onondaga county, 
N. Y., December 16, 1808. He was a farmer's son, and his early life was 
spent in that occupation. He received a good academic education in his 
native State, and studied law in the office of Gen. James R. Lawrence, 
now of Syracuse, N. Y. In the spring of 1833 he married an estimable 
lady recently from Scotland, and immediately emigrated to Michigan 
and purchased a new farm, in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. 
Robert Warden, in Green Oak, Livingston county. Here, on the border 
of civilization, he commenced the arduous task of clearing and fencing a 
new farm, putting up the buildings and making it habitable, and bring- 



730 GENERAL HISTORY OF THE STATES. 

ing it to a high state of cultivatiou. He held the offices of justice of the 
peace and postmaster under the Territorial Government, and was the first 
judge of probate in the county. In the year 18BG when Michigan became 
a State, he was elected to the first legislature. lie was four times 
re-elected, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives three years. 
In 1846 he was elected Representative in Congress, and was the only 
practical farmer in that body. He did many things in the interest of the 
farmers, and in particular he opposed and prevented the extension of 
Wood's patent cast iron plow. He was re-elected to Congress in 1848. 
He strongly opposed the extension of slavery in the Territories of the 
United States, and was committed and voted for the Wilmot Proviso. In 
1854, at the first organization of the Republican party, he was nominated 
and elected Governor of the State. In 1856 he was re-elected Governor, 
and during his administration the farming interest was not forgotten. 
Among his best acts he recommended and assisted in establishing the 
Agricultural College at Lansing. In 1859 he was elected Senator in Con- 
gress. He took an active part in the stormy campaign in the election of 
Abraham Lincoln, and witnessed the inauguration of the rebellion. On 
the 5th of October, 1861, he was attacked with apoplexy, and died sud- 
denly at his residence in Green Oak. 




HON. STEVENS T. MASON. 

Stevens Thompson Mason was a son of General John T. Mason, of 
Kentucky, but was born in Virginia in 1813. At the age of nineteen he 
was appointed Secretary of Michigan Territory, and served in that capa- 
city during the administration of Governor George B. Porter. Upon the 
death of Governor Porter, which occurred on the 6th of July, 1834, Mr. 
Mason became acting governor. In October, 1835, he was elected gov- 
ernor under the State organization, and immediately entered upon the 
performance of the duties of the office, although the State was not yet 
admitted into the Union. After the State was admitted into the Union, 
Governor Mason was reelected to the position, and served with credit to 
himself and to the advantage of the State. He died January 4th, 1843. 



RESIDENCE OF J. W. FRISBIE. 



Following are six engravings — views of the magnificent residence 
of Mr. James W. Frisbie, of Detroit. It is located on Cass avenue, one 
of tbe most popular and aristocratic thoroughfares in the city, and occu- 
pies nearly the entire square bounded by Cass avenue on the east, Bagg 
street on the north and Ledyard street on the south. A brief description 
of this elegant residence will, no doubt, be interesting to the reader. 




FltONT VIEW FK03I CAS^ A\ K>;UK. 

As the visitor enters the broad gates from Cass avenue, a magnificent 
scene is laid out to view. Its richness, however, varies according to the 
season. In spring, or early summer, it gives one the impression that 
nature had collected her rarest beauties and concentrated her most deli- 
cate fragrance on this spot. The scene is not more ennobling in its store 
of nature's rich attire than imposing as a real work of true art. On the 
right is a triangle of three Norway spruce trees, about twelve feet high. 



RESIDENCE OF J. W. FKTSBIE. 



733 



This is converted into a pyramid by a tall balsam rising from its base to 
a height of fifteen feet, overlooking tlie whole from the corner. On the 
left this view is repeated as perfect as though it were reflected by a mir- 
ror. The trees are of the same kind, stand exactly in corresponding 
places, have been allowed to grow to the same height and no higher, and 
are trimmed so as to present precisely the same appearance. There is 
also on either side of the walk a drooping mountain ash. These two arp 




VIEW OF FRONT GARDEN. 

the same in appearance, each exciting the curiosit}^ of the visitor. Near 
these on either side of the walk is a weeping willow about six feet high, 
trimmed and developed into a perfect umbrella. These are as near alike 
as is possible, and complete the similarity of the grounds and trees on one 
side of the front walk with those on the other. 

As the visitor advances from the front gate toward the residence, the 
walk divides itself into three directions, one leading to the front door, 



734 



RESIDENCE OF J. W. FRISBIE. 



another around the north side of the residence, a third around the south 
side, meeting the last named in the rear and connecting in its course with 
the grand nortliern winding walk leading through the hedge to the sum- 
mer house. 

At the intersection of these walks the visitor has one of the grandest 
views of garden landscape in America. The scene is perfectly indescrib- 
able, and the eye of the beholder is lost in wonder and admiration as the 
handiwork of nature and triumphs of art blend together in harmony in 




VIEW OF RESIDENCE AND GROUNDS. 

every feature presented. From the tallest balsam, Norway spruce or 
pine, to the most delicate foliage of the tinted rose is constantly visible 
marks of artful man; a drooping branch on the one side has its counter- 
part on the other. The great vase on the right, whose flower-laden vines 
stream down on either side, covering the massive base with the profusion 
of nature's delicacy, has its grand rival and perfect duplicate in a corres- 
ponding place on the left; the fragrance-breathing mound that lies like a 
bright painting on the canvas of earth, ever greeting the eye with new 



RESIDENCE OF J. W. FRISBIE. 



735 



beauties that magnify among the rich foliage of a thousand brilliant 
shades and colors, is repeated again with a skill that has compelled 
nature to duplicate her rarest charms; the Michigan prairie rose vines 
that rise from the soft grass ascend to meet and intertwine their rich and 
heavy flower wreaths in arched magnificence over the front windows of 
the residence, while the quaint beauty of the Indian maiden hair tree 




VIEW THROUGH ARBOR AND SUMMER HOUSE TO BESIDENUE. 

adds wonder to the scene by interweaving its strange branches. But as 
if to constitute all these wreaths and arches a back-ground to the great 
picture before the visitor, a magnificent vase of many kinds of flowers 
has been placed on either side of the entrance, just near enough to the 
elevation to produce the richest eflect. 




LANSING HOUSE. 

This extensive and popular hotel is justly the pride of the capitol city. 
The building was erected at a cost of $85,000, and is one of the finest 
structures in Lansing. It is located on Washington avenue, opposite the 
old State house. The proprietor, Mr. M. Hudson, is one of the most 
genial and accomplished of hosts. During the sessions of the legislature, 
this hotel is the center of fashionable society in Lansing. Its large par- 
lors and ball rooms present an elegant appearance, and the building is in 
every way arranged_f or a first-class hotel. 
47 " 




CENTRAL DRUG STORE, DETROIT. 

This elegant establishment occupies a large part of the ground floor of 
the Fisher Block. It forms in its obtuse angle one of the most prominent 
corners on Campus Martins. The front of this store presents a splendid 
appearance. A prismatic glass morter, once the property of H. T. Helm- 
bold, of Broadway, New York, and sixteen large colored show globes, 
illuminate the square, making an attractive display. 

Messrs. Prittie & Buffum, proprietors of the Central Drug Store, are 
gentlemen of reputed standing. Dr. "W. H. Prittie is a graduate of 
Harvard College, and has been favorably known in Boston for several 
years as a reliable and competent apothecary, and also, in Jersey City, as 
a practicing physician. He removed from the latter place to purchase 
the Central Drug Store, and to settle in Detroit. Mr. J. J. Buffum, his 
partner, has been favorably known in this State as a prominent merchant 
during the last twenty-two years. 



MICHIGAN EXCHANGE. 

This is one of the oldest and most celebrated hotels in Detroit. It was 
erected in 1834-5, but has, at different times, been enlarged. To-day it 
occupies nearly an entire square, with a frontage of one hundred and 
forty feet on Jefferson avenue. It is two hundred feet deep, extending 
from Jefferson avenue to Woodbridge street, and being six stories high 
on the latter street and four on the former. This extensive and popular 
hotel is conducted by Mr. Edward Lyon, who has been connected with 
the Michigan Exchange for several years. He came to this State in 
183G. After remaining in Detroit a few months, he removed to the site 
of the present town of Lyons, which was then a wilderness. After 
founding a settlement there, he returned to Detroit, in 1840, and has 
since been prominently connected with the two leading hotels of the city 
— formerly the Russell House, and at present the Michigan Exchange, of 
which the foregoing engraving is a good illustration. 



FERRY & CO.'S SEED STORE 

The seed establishment of D. M. Ferry & Co. is one of the most exten- 
sive wholesale establishments in the State, and it is the largest of the kind 
in the whole Northwest. 

This enterprising firm furnishes constant employment to several hun- 
dred persons, and their trade extends over the whole Union, but is mainly 
confined to the Middle, Southern and Western States. 

The reputation of the house is an enviable one, and the goods they 
send out need no recommendation. 

This immense establishment has risen to its present prominence within 
the last sixteen years, under the supervision of Mr. Ferry, whose name 
is at the head of the firm. His wealth, acquired mainly during that 
period, is variously estimated at from five hundred thousand to a million 
dollars. It is unquestionably in advance of the former figure. 

There is something really cheering in these figures; not so much, how- 
ever, because an enterprising individual has thus quickly acquired a 
fortune, but because they indicate the prosperity of the Peninsular State, 
and constitute a part of that data which renders it a pleasing and an 
enviable task to compare the history of Michigan's commerce with that 
of the surrounding and competing States. 



n MI] 




THE SIMMONS & CLOUGH ORGANS. 

Among the great industries of Michigan, the organ factory is a pleasing 
feature, especially since it indicates the equal growth of all the interests 
necessary to the development of a grand and prosperous State. ' ' Of the 
many large manufacturing establishments which are making Detroit 
known throughout the country as a manufacturing city," says the Detroit 
Tribune, "the Simmons &Clough Organ Company are doing their share, 
inasmuch as their justly celebrated instruments are being shipped every 
week into all parts of the United States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific." 
On the first of January, 1872, the Simmons & Clough Organ Company 
was organized, with a capital of $50,000, taking the business of JVlessrs. 
Simmons & Clough, which firm began the business of making organs 
some six or seven years ago in Detroit. The new company purchased a 
lot 120x138 feet, and erected a five-story brick factory, on the corner of 
Sixth and Congress streets. The original building was completed and 
occupied on the 1st of June, 1872. The business of the concern increased 
so rapidly that it was necessary to increase the size of the building, which 
has recently been done. The factory has now a frontage of 120 feet on 
Sixth street by 138 feet on Congress street. The new addition on Con- 
gress street is six stories high. We present an engraving of the factory, 
showing the growth of the establishment in the shortTspace of two years. 




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